AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · FRANCE 2.00 EUROS · ICELAND KR100 · NEW ZEALAND $2.00 · SWEDEN KR10 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE French premier on Turkey: Stop 'river of Islam' into Europe — PAGE 3 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 68/NO. 37 OCTOBER 12, 2004

SWP candidate for president Róger Calero Strengthen unions to fight bosses’ attacks Socialist speaks at California campaign rally BY FRANK FORRESTAL ers produce through our labor power that SAN FRANCISCO—“At plant gates, the bosses take from us. They go after our mine portals, and in working-class districts, wages, benefi ts, and job and living condi- we often run into workers who say: ‘We tions to shore up their declining profi t rates. need a union. How do we organize one?’” That’s the source of all differentiation in the said Róger Calero, Socialist Workers Party working class, of all divisions between em- candidate for U.S. president, at a September ployed and unemployed, old and young, men 25 campaign rally here. “We fi nd increasing and women, immigrants and native-born,” interest in the central demand of our plat- the socialist presidential candidate stated. form, which is to support workers’ right to “Working people are reacting to these organize unions to defend themselves from conditions. They are reacting to forced the bosses’ assaults and to strengthen the overtime, the extension of the workday, Militant/John Brink labor movement to resist the continuing of- the work week, the work year, and their working life,” Calero said. “They are Róger Calero, Socialist Workers Party candidate for president (left), campaigns Sep- fensive by the employers and the two main tember 29 outside Tipatia store in Des Moines, Iowa. Four days earlier, the socialist parties of capitalism—the Democrats and reacting to speed-up on the job, two-tier candidate spoke at a campaign rally in San Francisco. He then joined Martín Koppel, Republicans.” wages, deteriorating health coverage or no SWP candidate for U.S. Senate in New York, for speaking engagements at Stony Brook At the event, held at a neighborhood medical benefi ts, unsafe working condi- University in Long Island and campaigning in Manhattan’s Garment District. YMCA near the socialist campaign hall on tions, and assaults by the bosses on our the edge of San Francisco’s Mission District, dignity.” organizers announced that the SWP had Workers face a grinding offensive both nominated Dennis Richter, a meat packer on and off the job, the socialist candidate and member of the United Food and Com- continued. “As a result, workers are being Utah miners: ‘Bosses’ lawsuit mercial Workers, as its candidate for U.S. pushed and they want to fi ght back. That’s Senate in California at a state nominating why millions want to organize unions or won’t stop our fight for union’ convention earlier that day. Richter, who strengthen the ones they have.” chaired the meeting, introduced the rest of While the labor movement continues to UMWA re-upping its support for miners the socialist slate in California. weaken, the struggle at the Co-Op mine in “The ruling class has a one-point pro- Huntington, Utah, is setting an example for gram,” Calero said. “Through speed-up, workers who are struggling to defend them- Co-Op workers build Oct. 2 solidarity rally lengthening the workday, and driving down selves from the employers’ attacks or who BY PAT MILLER tington, Utah, is run by C.W. Mining and is real wages, the bosses are trying to increase simply yearn to resist, Calero said. “The AND ANNE CARROLL owned by the Kingstons. The workers, their the surplus value they are extracting from union-organizing struggle by these coal PRICE, Utah—One year after being families, and other supporters of the union- workers, to increase their profi ts.” miners in Utah is a concrete example of locked out and forced to strike, and three organizing fi ght are gathering October 2 at Under the lash of intensifying capitalist the kind of battle that can be waged today,” months after winning the battle to be rein- the UMWA hall in Price to celebrate the competition, he said, “the employers need he stated. “This should be at the center of stated on the job, Co-Op miners here are one-year anniversary of their struggle and to increase the portion of the wealth work- Continued on Page 7 pressing ahead with their struggle to win show their resolve to win. At the rally, they representation by the United Mine Workers will also discuss how to counter the latest of America (UMWA). The mine near Hun- attack by the Co-Op bosses. Haiti floods: ‘Immediate, On September 24, attorneys for C.W. Mining and the so-called International Asso- unconditional ‘Militant’ and SWP ciation of United Workers Union (IAUWU), a social, not a which miners say is a company union, fi led also sued by the Kingstons a federal civil suit in the U.S. District Court ‘natural,’ disaster U.S. aid to Haiti!’ in Utah against the UMWA, its offi cers, and Imperialist plunder Says Martín Koppel, Defend freedom of speech! 17 current and former Co-Op miners. In all, Send funds to back defense 120 organizations and individuals are named is cause of deadly toll socialist candidate in the 76-page suit, accused of “unlawful — See editorial on page 10 labor practices” and “defamation.” BY ERIC SIMPSON for U.S. Senate in N.Y. “This company has taken advantage of AND LAWRENCE MIKESH BY PAUL PEDERSON the Co-Op miners for many years,” said MIAMI—Rains caused by Tropical NEW YORK—“The rising death toll Meat packers at Bob Butero, UMWA Region 4 director, in Storm Jeanne have resulted in widespread in Haiti, the thousands left homeless, and response to the lawsuit. “Now they are suing damage in northwest Haiti, as well as the threat of epidemics there after Tropical these organizations for trying to help the Florida. Storm Jeanne are not the result of a natural Minnesota Beef miners. All of us who support the workers The death toll in Haiti has been as- disaster. They are the result of imperialist are there because we support justice.” tounding. At least 1,500 people have been oppression and exploitation, which has win union vote Also named as defendants in the suit by confi rmed dead in the city of Gonaives, blocked economic development and led the Kingstons are the Salt Lake Tribune, and nearby smaller towns, and rural areas. to deforestation. The Socialist Workers BY CLAUDIO ZARATE and eight of its editors and journalists who Another 1,000 are missing, many of them campaign calls for canceling Haiti’s for- AND BOB SORENSON have reported on this labor struggle; the presumed dead. An unknown number have eign debt, which the imperialist powers BUFFALO LAKE, Minnesota—Workers Deseret Morning News and fi ve of its staff; been swept to the sea by the fl oods. About use to plunder the entire Third World. We at the Minnesota Beef Industries plant here the Militant newspaper, its editor, its web ad- Continued on Page 4 250,000 people have been made homeless. demand that Washington send immediate voted 53 to 46 to join United Food and Com- The reason for this devastation is not aid with no strings attached. This disaster mercial Workers (UFCW) Local 789. “natural.” It mainly stems from the country’s also speaks volumes for backing the right Local 789 won a groundbreaking vic- extreme deforestation as a result of imperial- of oppressed nations to expand electrifi ca- tory in organizing Dakota Premium Foods ist domination. The toll has also tion, which is necessary for development, in South St. Paul, Minnesota, two years ago Also Inside: been magnifi ed by the lack of by any means, including the use and has been trying to organize other pack- Yemeni regime cracks down adequate housing, medical care, of nuclear power.” ing plants in the area. The vote at Buffalo on ‘terrorist’ groups; Lake is the fi rst victory in this struggle. roads, transportation, communi- Pathfi nder This is how Martín Koppel, So- Washington drops arms embargo 3 cations, and other basic infra- cialist Workers Party candidate for The September 24 vote here came less than fi ve months after meat packers back- structure. These conditions are supersaver U.S. Senate in New York, opened Bondholders in Europe, Japan the result of exploitation by the his remarks while addressing a ing the union lost a previous representa- domestic capitalist ruling fami- sale p. 6 few dozen students September 22 tion election. Deteriorating conditions at resist Argentina’s demand lies and plunder by imperialist at the Borough of Manhattan Com- the Minnesota Beef plant helped turn the to write off 70% of its debt 3 powers—above all Washington, munity College (BMCC) here. He tide, workers said. In addition, promises Paris, and Ottawa. took the microphone shortly after the bosses had made last spring of better Rumsfeld defends repositioning Frequent fl ash fl oods are a worsening a member of the Haitian student club an- pay and benefi ts if the workers rejected the of U.S. military worldwide as feature of Haitian life, as living conditions nounced the formation of their organiza- union never materialized, union supporters NATO begins operations in Iraq 9 continue to deteriorate. About 3,000 Hai- tion. Students standing around the club’s pointed out. tians perished after fl oods and mudslides in literature table had been discussing the “If we get injured or if we have to work Farmers rally in Washington, D.C., June in the border region between Haiti and solidarity effort under way in New York’s light duty, we automatically get bumped to demand an end to anti-Black to $7 an hour,” said Manuel Cespedes, a the Dominican Republic. Haitian communities. discrimination by U.S. gov’t 10 Only 1 percent of Haiti retains tree cov- SWP candidates had been invited by boning worker, in an interview here two Continued on Page 11 Continued on Page 6 Continued on Page 5 Pathfinder books Scotland cosmetics workers on weekly strikes sell at Paris festival BY JEAN-LOUIS SALFATI standing of today’s world, for learning PARIS—Supporters of Pathfi nder Press more from fi ghters in Cuba and around had their most successful sales ever at the the world, was expressed by a number of Fête de l’Humanité, getting out 220 books workers and youth who came by the table, and pamphlets. The September 10–12 fes- one of the busiest and most political at the tival in a suburb of Paris is organized each Book Village during the weekend. Path- year by l’Humanité, the newspaper of the fi nder’s large display of books and pam- French Communist Party. phlets was a magnet for those interested An estimated 500,000 people attended in discussing the lessons of 150 years of the gathering, somewhat more than in struggle by the working class internation- recent years. ally, and a scientifi c explanation of today’s As in previous years at the festival, an capitalist crisis and the way forward for international team of Pathfi nder volun- working people. teers staffed a large and attractive booth Émeline Miegakanda, a college student within the Book Village that is part of the majoring in English who is Black, passed event. Team members came from Canada, by the table and stopped when she saw France, the United States, and the United Malcolm X titles. After some discussion, Kingdom. she bought By Any Means Necessary by The most popular Pathfi nder title at Malcolm X and the pamphlet Revolution the three-day festival was The Working in the Congo. Later on in the afternoon, she came back to deepen the discussion Militant/Caroline Bellamy Class and the Transformation of Learn- QUEENSLIE, Glasgow, Scotland—Transport and General Workers Union ing, with 19 copies sold. Other best sellers and purchased a copy of The Changing Face of U.S. Politics by Socialist Workers members September 21 during one of their four two-day strikes in a fi ght over shift included: 18 copies of each of Cuba and allowances and dignity on the job. The banner reads “1988–2004 Soapworks Dicta- the Coming American Revolution and The Party leader Jack Barnes. Thibault, a student living in Denain, a tors,” referring to plant managers. The factory is owned by Body Shop, which sells Second Declaration of Havana; 13 each “ethical beauty products.” “Five years ago, we agreed to a fi ve-year wage freeze to of We Are Heirs of the World’s Revolutions working-class town in the north of France, had met Pathfi nder during last year’s Fête avoid threatened redundancies [layoffs],” said John White, a shop steward. “Now and Women’s Liberation and the African we are only asking what is our due.” Freedom Struggle, both by Thomas San- and came back to the booth this year. He kara; and 10 copies of Capitalism’s World purchased a three-volume set of Lenin’s —CAROLINE BELLAMY Disorder. All told, 96 of the books and works in French. “After this purchase, pamphlets sold were part of the Pathfi nder I only have 10 euros left for today and Supersaver Sale. (See ad on Page 6.) tomorrow, but with these books, I should tionists,” he added. with three bookstores, including one from “I’m not yet a communist but want to be alright,” he said. ”You’re the only While most of the 220 books sold were Bordeaux that specializes in jazz, and an- change this society because all this is too revolutionary table here because you’re in French, 35 were in English, 12 in Span- other that operates both in Paris and in the much injustice,” said Christiane David, an the only ones who sell books of revolu- ish, and 2 in Farsi. Contacts were made African country of Cameroon. offi ce cleaner in Paris. At fi rst, she quietly listened to a dis- cussion between someone opposed to the Cuban Revolution and a member of Thomas Sankara speeches now in Spanish the Pathfi nder booth team. Then, as the discussion ended, she asked about learn- BY MIKE TABER lish and in the original French, Pathfi nder fi re to our forests and savannah…. ing more about Cuba. “They seem to look AND LUIS MADRID gives Spanish-speaking readers an entry “Our struggle to defend the trees and the after their workers in that country,” she Pathfinder Press has just published a into the political legacy of this outstanding forest is fi rst and foremost a democratic said. “Here they have no respect and this pamphlet in Spanish by Thomas Sankara, internationalist leader. struggle that must be waged by the people,” has to change. Give me something good to leader of the 1983–87 revolution in the West But Sankara did not portray Africans he said. “The sterile and expensive excite- read; I like to read.” She eventually bought African country of Burkina Faso. Somos he- simply as suffering victims. He repeatedly ment of a handful of engineers and forestry Capitalism’s World Disorder in French and rederos de las revoluciones del mundo (We explained that ordinary men and women of experts will accomplish nothing!” issue number 5 of the Marxist magazine are heirs of the world’s revolutions) contains Burkina were capable of becoming con- In October 1987 a counterrevolutionary Nouvelle Internationale containing the fi ve speeches by the Marxist revolutionary scious actors on the world stage, fi ghting military coup put an end to the popular article by Mary-Alice Waters titled, “De- that address many of the burning questions “to take charge of their own history.” revolutionary government in Burkina Faso, fending Cuba, Defending Cuba’s Socialist facing workers and farmers in Africa and In the October 1983 speech that opens and Sankara was assassinated. One week Revolution.” throughout the world today. this collection, Sankara outlines the char- before the overthrow of the revolution, This worker’s thirst for a better under- With this booklet, also available in Eng- acter and goals of the popular revolution- Sankara had paid tribute to Ernesto Che ary government that had risen to power Guevara, one of the central leaders of the two months earlier in what was then Upper Cuban Revolution. This is the concluding Volta. speech of the pamphlet. “The revolution has as its primary objec- “Fearless youth—a youth thirsty for dig- tive the transfer of power from the hands of nity, thirsty for courage, thirsty for ideas the Voltaic bourgeoisie allied with imperial- and for the vitality that he symbolizes in ism into the hands of the alliance of popular Africa—sought out Che Guevara to drink classes that make up the people,” he stated. from the source, the life-giving source that “This democratic and popular power will be Che’s revolutionary heritage representted the foundation, the solid base, of revolution- to the world.” He continued, “You cannot Find out about Utah miners’ fi ght for union ary power.” kill ideas; ideas do not die. That is why Che After a 10-month strike, Co-Op min- In a speech to a February 1986 interna- Guevara—an embodiment of revolutionary tional conference on the environment, San- ideas, of self-sacrifi ce—is not dead.” ers in Huntington, Utah, returned to kara pointed to the causes of the wanton Those words ring true today about San- work July 12 and have continued the destruction of the environment throughout kara as well, and point to the invaluable battle for the union from inside. From the world, particularly in the Third World: legacy contained in these speeches. “This struggle to defend the trees and the The pamphlet is available for $7 and can be day one of the strike the ‘Militant’ forest is above all a struggle against impe- ordered through www.pathfi nderpress.com. has given weekly coverage to this im- rialism. Imperialism is the arsonist setting (See ad on Page 6.) portant labor struggle. New subscrib- ers can get two back issues of their choice to fi nd out more about it. address. By fi rst-class (airmail), send $80. Don’t miss a single issue! Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: Send $65 The Militant drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. Vol. 68/No. 37 Canada: Send Canadian $50 for one-year sub- Closing news date: September 29, 2004 scrip tion to Militant, 6955 Boul. St. Michel suite 202, Montreal, QC. Postal Code: H2A 2Z3. Editor: ARGIRIS MALAPANIS United Kingdom: £25 for one year by SUBSCRIBE TO DAY! Business Manager: MICHAEL ITALIE check or inter na tion al mon ey order made out Washington Bureau Chief: SAM MANUEL to Mil i tant Dis tri bu tion, 47 The Cut, Lon don, Editorial Staff: Róger Calero, Michael Italie, SE1 8LF, En gland. Martín Koppel, Sam Manuel, Doug Nelson, Republic of Ireland and Continental Eu- and Paul Pederson. 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2 The Militant October 12, 2004 Yemen regime cracks down on ‘terrorists’ BY PAUL PEDERSON In a trial in late August, one defendant Over the last three months the govern- was sentenced to death and 14 others to be- ment of Yemen has dealt devastating blows tween 3 and 10 years in prison, after being to groups it labels “terrorist.” These include convicted of carrying out the attack on the Young Believers, a split off from a pro-mon- French tanker Limburg. In September, two archist party in parliament whose leaders men were sentenced to death and two oth- said they had modeled it after the Lebanese ers to up to 10 years in prison after a judge Hezbollah, and the Aden-Abyan Islamic found them guilty of planning the October Army that has alleged ties to al-Qaeda. 2000 attack on the USS Cole which killed The administration of Yemeni president 17 U.S. sailors in the port of Aden. Ali Abdullah Saleh has also cut govern- Religious schools, many of which once ment funding to religious schools run by functioned with government funding, the Muslim Brotherhood and shut many of have been stripped of such fi nancial aid. them down, converting the facilities into Scientific institutes run by the Muslim Brotherhood, for example, used to get 6 public institutions. In addition, courts have Getty Images recently handed down harsh sentences to billion Yemeni rials ($32.4 million) from Photo released September 14 by Yemeni government shows Yemeni troops carrying more than a dozen individuals convicted of the Ministry of Education. The govern- body of Hussein al-Mouthy, leader of anti-government revolt in north Yemen. planning and carrying out the 2002 attack on ment cut their funding and converted them the French oil tanker Limburg and the attack into public schools. It has also promised to on the USS Cole two years before. shut down all schools that do not teach a ter Hezbollah in Lebanon. Al-Mouthy called a 10-week civil war broke out after a failed These steps have met the U.S. govern- standardized curriculum. the Yemeni president “a tyrant… who wants secession attempt in the southern part of the ment’s approval. On September 1, Washing- The Yemen Times estimated that some to please America and Israel.” Supporters majority Arab country. ton dropped its weapons embargo against 35,000 “Islamic extremists” have left the of al-Mouthy had staged a wave of demon- Over the past three years, however, as Yemen, fi lling orders from the Yemeni air country in face of this crackdown. Hundreds strations outside mosques in Yemen in the Washington has carried out two wars in the force for fi ghter jets and C-130 planes to of others have been arrested. The police have months leading up to the rebellion. region in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, transport troops and weaponry. The White regularized spying operations at mosques The Yemeni government sent at least assault on the World Trade Center and Penta- House had made frequent exceptions to the and religious institutions. 2,000 troops, along with tribesmen it has gon, the Saleh administration has increased arms embargo over the last two years, as “We are not allies of America or col- recruited from other regions, to crush al- its military collaboration with the U.S. gov- military cooperation between the two gov- laborators,” Yemeni president Saleh told a Mouthy’s rebellion. More than 600 soldiers ernment. In June, the Yemeni and Jordanian ernments improved. Beirut newspaper August 19, after taking and rebels reportedly died in the battles. regimes became the fi rst Arab governments “We’re updating our existing alliances some heat from his opponents for this On September 10, Yemeni authorities to offer to send troops to join the U.S.-led and building new relationships based on crackdown. “But we cooperate with the announced that al-Mouthy had been killed occupation forces in Iraq, on the condition security realities of this new century, and Americans within the framework of the in- by government forces. Eleven days later, the that the UN oversee the troops. not the last century,” U.S. defense secretary ternational community in order to combat warring parties agreed to a cease-fi re. In early 2002, some 100 U.S. Special Donald Rumsfeld said September 10 at the the world’s evil, terrorism.” Washington slapped economic sanctions Forces troops arrived in Yemen to begin National Press Club in Washington, D.C. On June 18, an anti-government insur- on Yemen in the early 1990s after the gov- “counter-terrorism” operations. In No- “Countries like Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, gency broke out in the northern part of the ernment in Sana’a voted against Washing- vember of that year, an unmanned Predator Yemen, Pakistan, India—to cite but a few country. Its leader, Hussein Bard Eden al- ton’s war resolution for the 1990–91 Gulf drone operated by the CIA fi red a missile examples—are now partners in the fi ght Mouthy, was a former member of parliament War in the United Nations Security Council. at a car in Yemen killing the six men inside. against extremism in the Middle East and from the pro-monarchist Has Party. He said The U.S. government also imposed a ban The CIA claimed the men were high-level Central Asia.” he modeled his group, Young Believers, af- on weapons sales to Yemen in 1994, when al-Qaeda operatives. In the spring of 2003, Washington established a military command at a former French base on the Gulf of Aden French premier on Turkey: Stop ‘river of Islam’ into Europe in the east African country of Djibouti, BY SAM MANUEL favorable recommendation, the EU parlia- million, and given the new voting rules in less than 50 miles from Yemen across the Gulf of Aden. The “Combined Joint Task WASHINGTON, D.C.—“Do we really ment would vote December 17 on whether the constitution, it would be the country with Force—Horn of Africa” includes approxi- want the river of Islam to enter the riverbed to accept the proposal. the most votes.” mately 1,400 Marines, CIA operatives, of secularism?” French prime minister Jean- Even by the best estimates, the negotia- According to a recent poll published by and Special Forces soldiers. These troops Pierre Raffarin asked the European edition tions for Turkey to enter the EU could take the French daily Le Figaro, some 56 percent are responsible for “counterterrorism” op- of the Wall Street Journal. Raffarin made up to 10 to 15 years. Turkey’s rulers have of adults in France oppose admitting Turkey erations in Yemen and across the Horn of these remarks as Turkey’s prime minister been trying to join the EU for 45 years. to the European Union. Africa—including Sudan, Somalia, Ethio- Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brus- Their efforts began in 1959, when Ankara Prominent politicians in Denmark, pia, Eritrea, Kenya, and Djibouti, as well sels September 23 for talks with European fi rst applied for membership in what was among them prime minister Anders Fogh as the coastal waters of the Red Sea, Gulf Union (EU) offi cials over Ankara’s request then the European Economic Community, Rasmussen, also threw cold water on the of Aden, and Indian Ocean. Since 2003, to join the EU. the EU’s forerunner. Its population of 67 idea of beginning talks on Turkey’s member- forces from that base have trained Yemeni “We are not doubting the good faith of million, largely Muslim, roughly equals the ship in the EU. Rasmussen stressed that the government troops and conducted opera- Mr. Erdogan, but to what extent can today’s combined total of the 10 countries admitted reform package must not only be approved tions in the country. and tomorrow’s governments make Turkish to the EU in December 2002. Continued on Page 5 society embrace Europe’s human rights val- French president Jacques Chirac and Ger- ues?” Raffarin said. man chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who lead While Raffarin raised the specter of a the main governments in what U.S. defense Creditors resist Argentina debt write off majority Islamic country infecting the EU’s secretary Donald Rumsfeld has called “Old BY SAM MANUEL secularism, other bourgeois politicians and Europe,” are offi cially in favor of Turkish billion due in the next four months. pundits in Europe have argued that mem- membership in the EU. But they have been WASHINGTON, D.C.—International The international bondholders hope to bership by Ankara in the EU would allow noticeably restrained in the face of thinly bondholders, most of them in Europe and take advantage of Argentina’s economic Muslims to predominate against “Christen- veiled anti-Muslim agitation by their sub- Japan, are resisting Argentina’s demand to upturn to recoup as much of their losses as dom.” Many capitalist politicians in France, ordinates against Turkey. write off 75 percent of its $100 billion in possible. After a devastating recession that Germany, Austria, and other EU member Reuters reported, for example, that French defaulted debts. The creditors are pressing reached its low point in 2002, the country’s countries have expressed similar views. European Parliament member Jacques Tou- for a smaller write-off. Any resumption of gross domestic product rose 8.4 percent last In the European Union, only the British bon told a news conference that he opposes payments would mean that bondholders year and exports increased sharply. Infl a- government, working together with Wash- even beginning talks on Turkey’s admittance would cut their losses and begin to receive tion, which had reached double digits, has ington, has been campaigning adamantly to the EU because, “to bring Turkey into some returns on the debt, hoping to take decreased substantially. The offi cial unem- for Ankara’s admission. (See also “‘Old the European Union is not consistent with advantage of the current economic upturn ployment rate is now at 14.4 percent, down Europe’ balks at accepting Turkey in Euro- our concept of the European project and in Argentina. from more than 20 percent in 2002. pean Union; British, U.S. rulers campaign it is not good for Europe.” Toubon joined The London-based Financial Times The economic squeeze has eased some- what for the middle classes and better-off for entry” in last week’s Militant.) French fi nance minister Nicolas Sarkozy reported September 20 that most of the The strong opposition campaign against and the leader of the opposition Christian foreign bondholders seemed to be ready workers, widening the gap between these admitting Turkey notwithstanding, the Democratic Union in Germany in calling for to accept a debt restructure plan in which layers and the most pauperized sections European Union’s enlargement commis- a “special partnership” with Turkey instead the Argentine government would pay 30 of the working class, who are still feeling sioner, Guenter Verheugen, said it is likely of membership in the EU. cents on the dollar. The government of the long-term effects of the privatization of that Turkey will be given the green light to Toubon is a member of the Union for a President Néstor Kirchner has said that it state-owned industries in the 1990s and the begin talks on joining the EU, according to Popular Movement (UMP), which is headed could not pay more than 25 cents on the plant closings during the recent recession. a September 23 Reuters report. Verheugen by Chirac. Reuters described Toubon as a dollar, suggesting that it would otherwise In December 2001 the Radical Party gov- made the announcement following a meet- Chirac ally. Distancing himself from the risk a social explosion. ernment of President Fernando de la Rúa ing with the Turkish prime minister. Erdogan French president on the issue of Turkey’s After years of monthly reports of Ar- resigned after Buenos Aires defaulted on its gave assurances that Ankara would fully admittance, Toubon said, “That’s him [Chi- gentine bonds that pay no interests, most debt in face of a mounting depression, set- meet demands by the EU to reform its laws rac] and this is me.” insurance companies, pension funds, and ting off a fi nancial collapse and an eruption to meet the EU-prescribed guidelines. Sarkozy is also a leader of the UMP and mutual funds that purchased these secu- of working-class and middle-class protests. On September 25, the Turkish parliament hopes to succeed Chirac as French president, rities have dumped them onto so-called De la Rúa was replaced by Eduardo Duhalde voted to amend its penal code along lines said Reuters. vulture funds. These funds specialize in of the Peronist party, a capitalist party that demanded by the EU, dropping an earlier Sarkozy said September 27 that Ankara buying up “distressed debt.” Along with has the backing of the labor offi cialdom. amendment proposed by a faction of the cannot be allowed to join the EU without individual bondholders, they now hold 80 Duhalde’s government broke the decade- ruling party to include a law criminalizing a referendum in France on the matter. He percent of Argentina’s debt, the Financial long linkage of the Argentine peso to the adultery. told La Chaine Info television that his views Times reported. U.S. dollar, precipitating a 70 percent de- Following the meeting with Erdogan, were based on Turkey’s size, rather than the On September 17 the International valuation of the national currency. Duhalde Verheugen told a news conference in Brus- fact it is a Muslim country. “Turkey alone Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to a delay in used his Peronist credentials as a “man of sels that “no outstanding obstacles remained represents the equivalent of the entry of payment on $1.1 billion in Argentina’s debt the people” to push through the devaluation on the table.” the 10 new eastern European countries for one year while Buenos Aires works out and other measures devastating to working Verheugen’s commission is preparing a combined—that’s quite something,” he its debt restructuring. The IMF, which is people, in order to restore the confi dence report due October 6 on Turkey’s member- said. “Turkey means 71 million inhabit- dominated by U.S. fi nance capital, said the of the capitalists. The current president, ship in the EU. If the commission makes a ants—looking ahead to 2050, it will be 100 Argentine government must still pay $1.46 Kirchner, is also a Peronist. The Militant October 12, 2004 3 Utah miners’ fight Continued from front page ington, are also coming. A delegation from ministrator, and 20 of its reporters who have the International Union of Operating Engi- written articles on the Co-Op struggle; the neers in Farmington, New Mexico, will be Sun Advocate and other local newspapers in Price. Other miners from Colorado have in Utah’s Carbon and Emery Counties; the called to say they will be at the rally as well, Socialist Workers Party; the Workers World miners report. Party; Jobs with Justice and its affi liate in The Co-Op miners also said they have ex- Utah; the Roman Catholic Church and its tended an invitation to the coal miners who Salt Lake City Diocese and Bishop George have been thrown out of work at the three Niederauer, as well as Father Donald Hope mines formerly owned by Horizon Coal Co. of the Notre Dame Catholic Church in in West Virginia and Kentucky to be special Price; the Utah AFL-CIO; the PACE inter- guests at the solidarity rally. national union; the National Organization Utah Jobs with Justice is organizing a car for Women (NOW); and numerous other caravan of unionists and other supporters of labor organizations, individual unionists, the Co-Op fi ght from Salt Lake City. The newspapers, and others who have expressed caravan is set to depart at 9:00 a.m., Satur- Militant support of the Co-Op miners fi ght to win day, October 2, from the AFL-CIO Labor Co-Op miner Bill Estrada (right) addresses supporters at September 18 picket at UMWA representation. Temple in Utah’s capital city for the rally Salt Lake City offi ce of Carl Kingston, one of the lawyers who fi led recent lawsuit by Most of the alleged defamations are later that day. mine bosses. Co-Op miners Alyson Kennedy and Ricardo Chávez are at center. factual presentations by workers and their backers on how their labor struggle has Kingstons’ suit against the union, others ers, the UMWA, and others to fi ght it. Far nedy. “‘It is so outrageous,’ they said. But unfolded since last year. The lawsuit by the Kingstons cites hun- from being intimidated and silenced by this we take it seriously and see it as another dreds of supposedly defamatory statements lawsuit, Calero and his running mate Arrin attempt to intimidate us and our supporters. How struggle unfolded made in the course of the last year. These Hawkins, and SWP candidates for public It’s going to backfi re on the bosses, though. On Sept.. 23, 2003, some 75 miners were include: offi ce across the United States, will continue We will end up stronger, with more support, locked out and fi red by C.W.. Mining, also • Statements by Co-Op miners explain- to speak out wherever they go in defense of as a result of this action by the Kingstons known as the Co-Op mine, in Huntington. ing how they were locked out and fi red the unionists at the Co-Op mine, who will and our fi ght against it.” The owners, the Kingston family, have busi- from their jobs because of their efforts to prevail in this battle to be represented by Kennedy reported that a member of Am- ness holdings in six western states worth join the UMWA and defend a co-worker; the UMWA.” nesty International at the University of Utah about $150 million. The fi rings took place • Explanations by individual Co-Op “The lawsuit filed by the Kingstons called the Co-Op miners right after reading after a number of workers at the mine began miners of how they are paid between $5.25 against the Co-Op miners, their union, the about the Kingston lawsuit. She wanted to organizing to bring in the UMWA in order to and $7.00 an hour to mine coal when the Militant newspaper, other news organiza- know how they could help, and described win better safety conditions, decent wages, prevailing wage in the mining industry is tions, church groups, and other supporters’ plans by her group to organize a fundrais- and respect. Getting wind of this effort, the $15 to $20 an hour; of the miners’ fi ght is a serious attack on ing benefi t for the miners and to organize bosses at Co-Op began harassing union sup- • Details of the unsafe working condi- political rights,” said John Studer, execu- students from the campus to come to the porters, eventually fi ring one of the leaders tions miners are forced to work under. One tive director of the Political Rights Defense October 2 rally. of the effort. When workers at the mine such example is a statement by Co-Op Fund (PRDF), in a September 28 statement. “We are not afraid of this lawsuit,” Juan protested this victimization, the company miner Celso Panduro quoted in the Mili- PRDF has been providing support for the Salazar said. “Many of the miners we talked called the local sheriff and ordered the tant where he says, “The day we united defense of political rights for more than 30 to said they will be there on October 2, even workers off the property, locking them out against the owners, it was because we had years. This includes the successful legal more so after hearing what the Kingstons of their jobs. hit a wall. Every time we had asked for bet- challenge to decades of harassment and had just done. The company needs to know The miners turned the lockout into a ter working conditions they told us to keep disruption by the FBI and other government we are not sitting down and waiting.” strike and picketed the mine. After nine-and- our heads down and keep working.”; agencies against the Socialist Workers Party, Bill Estrada, who is cited as a defendant a-half months on the picket line, effectively • Statements by miners that the com- and the successful defense last year of Róger and is quoted often in the bosses’ lawsuit, limiting production at the Co-Op mine and pany does not provide affordable health Calero, associate editor of Perspectiva Mun- said: “The Kingstons are going to fi nd that winning broad support from the labor move- insurance, and examples of when the dial and staff writer for the Militant, against the Co-Op miners and their supporters are ment throughout the West, especially, and bosses forced miners to work when they efforts by immigration authorities to deport proud of what we have done. The Kingstons around the world, the miners won their jobs are injured; him to his native Nicaragua. have put together in their legal brief an honor back. The National Labor Relations Board • A statement by UMWA Region 4 “The goal of this attack is to divert sup- roll of those who have sided with us in this (NLRB) ruled in May that the miners had director Bob Butero who said the fi ght at porters of the miners from publicizing their struggle for justice.” been fi red illegally and ordered C.W. Mining Co-Op “is not over until these workers are struggle, forcing them instead to devote The Co-Op miners said they urge support- to allow the miners to return. Following an covered by a true labor agreement.”; resources, time, and attention to defend- ers around the world to write to the NLRB unconditional offer to return by the bosses, • A statement by Pastor Donald Hope ing themselves,” Studer continued. “In asking that the labor board set a date for the a number of the strikers got back on the job saying, “What is needed here over the long addition, the attack on the Militant and its union vote and reject the bosses’ proposal July 12. term is the development of a conscience reporters, as well as on other newspapers, to give the right to vote to supervisory per- Since then, Co-Op miners have said they on the part of C.W. Mining Co. They need is a challenge to freedom of the press and sonal and other Kingston family members are pressing their fi ght to be represented by to take the necessary steps to give their the paper’s effort to tell the truth about the and relatives brought in the mine to stack the UMWA from inside the mine. workers basic human rights.” miners’ struggle to unionists and others the deck against the UMWA. The NLRB also ordered that a union The Kingston lawsuit asks for at least $1 across the country and around the world. Such letters can be sent to NLRB Re- election be held between the UMWA and million in damages from the defendants, and PRDF pledges to lend whatever support it gion 27, attn. B. Allan Benson, director, and the IAUWU, which workers describe as a an unspecifi ed amount of punitive damages can to the fi ght to turn back this attack and Nancy Brandt, hearing offi cer; at 600 17th phony company outfi t. The labor board held to be determined during trial. Furthermore, defend political rights.” Street, 7th Floor – North Tower, Denver, a hearing here in July to determine which the Kingstons ask that the court enjoin all Colorado 80202-5433. Tel: (303) 844-3551; employees of C.W. Mining would have a of the named defendants, and up to 200 un- Fighting suit can help union struggle Fax (303) 844-6249. right to vote in such an election. Company known others who may be discovered during A number of Co-Op miners said they For more information on the October lawyers argued that up to 100 people, many trial, from carrying out further actions in won’t allow the lawsuit to slow down or 2 rally or to send a message of support of whom are Kingston family members or support of the miners, because of the injuries stop their fi ght for a union. or financial donation contact UMWA close relatives, including managerial and of- their actions infl ict on C.W. Mining Co. “Many miners we talked to during house District 22 at 525 E. 100 S., Price, Utah fi ce personnel, should be allowed to vote. visits at fi rst laughed about the Kingston 84501; Tel: (435) 637-2037; Fax: (435) The UMWA argued that such individuals Defendants vow to fi ght back lawsuit,” said Co-Op miner Alyson Ken- 637-9456. are loyal to the company and have no right Other defendants reacted to the suit with to vote in a union election. The NLRB has statements similar to Butero’s. “We wel- not issued a ruling yet on this matter nor has come the lawsuit because we know they Teachers’ strike in Iceland it set the date for the union election. can’t win it,” said George Nekels, of Utah “It is going to be important for us to show Jobs with Justice. “And it just sheds more Continued from back page think that teachers’ wages should be decided we are united and we have widespread sup- light on their activities. The more they are tract. Siggerdur Ólöf Sigurdardóttir, a teach- by a government board. A few members of port for our fi ght,” said Juan Salazar, one investigated, the more their questionable and er in the town of Kópavogur, explained this parliament have fl oated similar proposals. of the Co-Op miners who has been a leader unscrupulous treatment of the miners will be further in an interview. “We aren’t allowed The strike has brought forth divisions of the fi ght for a real union at the mine in uncovered. The fact that it is a joint lawsuit to tell how much we are getting from the within the labor offi cialdom. Two days be- an interview. Salazar said that he and two between the attorney for the company union wage pot,” she said. “Solidarity was being fore the strike, Halldór Björnsson, chairman other miners, Alyson Kennedy and Ricardo and the attorney for C.W. Mining is more undermined, and fi nally people were so an- of Starfsgreinasambandid (SGS), a union Chávez, recently did house visits with co- evidence of collusion and confl ict of inter- gry that most were ready to strike.” federation, said, “We are deeply worried workers and other miners who used to work est. It again shows why no Kingston family Another issue is the number of classes per about this, but it’s hard for us to interfere.” at Co-Op to build the October 2 rally. “We member should be allowed to vote in the week and how much other work can be as- The Confederation of Labor, to which SGS discussed with our co-workers and their union election.” signed to the teachers by the principal. “The belongs, has collaborated with the employ- families how the fi ght continues and why all The IAUWU, the miners contend, does main thing is to be able to prepare the classes ers and the government to “keep stability” of us should be there October 2,” he said. the bidding of the company and has failed to adequately,” two teachers from Seltjarnarnes and “keep infl ation down” by agreeing to The miners will have a display at the rally represent the workers in every dispute. told the Militant at the opening of the strike keep wage increases at about 2–3 percent. featuring all of the major turning points in The fi ling of the lawsuit has already re- headquarters. “All kinds of extra tasks have Helgi Helgason, a spokesman for the their struggle. They are also producing a ceived media coverage, including articles in been piling up in recent years. We are under Federation of Teachers, responded to similar T-shirt to raise funds and spread solidar- the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning a lot of pressure to cover everything.” remarks in an article in Fréttabladid. “The ity, which reads, “One Year in Struggle, News, two of the defendants. The September The municipalities are pressing for interference of those who guard the low- September 22, 2003—Co-Op Miners Want 25 edition of Deseret Morning News report- more money from the national government wage policy of the so-called parties of the the UMWA.” ed that managing editor Richard D. Hall said to settle with the teachers. Prime Minister labor market suggests that the ‘wage cop’ is While Co-Op miners, UMWA members, “he was surprised by the paper’s inclusion Halldór Ásgrímsson, who took offi ce in still its old self and ready to use any means to union retirees, and others in this area have in the lawsuit, which he described as ‘com- mid-September, answered, “This is not prevent a contract.” In face of the big-busi- been spreading the word about the October pletely frivolous and without merit.’” our dispute.” He added that it had been ness propaganda campaign, the strike is be- 2 rally, unionists from other parts of the Norton Sandler, Socialist Workers Party clear when the municipalities took over the ing widely debated among working people country are also making their way to the campaign director, said the lawsuit “needs schools from the state some years ago, that here. Some buy into the argument that the event. A delegation of 10 members of the to be taken seriously. There is no reason extra funding was out of the question. teachers demands are “excessive” and that International Longshore and Warehouse to assume the courts will dismiss it out of Minister of Education Thorgerdur Katrín they would harm other workers. But others Union (ILWU) and the Service Employees hand. We consider outrageous the inclu- Gunnarsdóttir has not ruled out passing a are expressing solidarity. Sigrídur Ágústs- International Union are traveling from sion of Róger Calero, SWP candidate for law against the strike. She has played on dóttir, a retired home-care worker, said, “I Seattle for the October 2 event. Two other president of the United States, as one of the worries over senior students dropping out of think it’s good that they stand their ground. members from the ILWU in Tacoma, Wash- defendants and we intend to join the min- school and said she understands people who Our workload is always being increased.”

4 The Militant October 12, 2004 SWP campaign key to success of sub drive BY PAUL PEDERSON an October 2-10 target With a little over a month left before the November 2 week to push ahead in elections, socialist workers, young socialists, and other sup- the international drive porters of the 2004 Socialist Workers Party campaign, are to expand the reader- gearing up to maximize support for the socialist ticket. This ship of the socialist includes, above all, organizing speaking engagements for campaign newspapers. the SWP candidates on campuses, at debates with capitalist Readers from about candidates, and elsewhere; soap boxing at street corners in a dozen cities sent in working-class districts; shaking hands with workers and reports last week de- distributing the socialist campaign platform at plant gates scribing how they are and mine portals; and doing media work. taking advantage of Selling subscriptions to the Militant and its Spanish- campaigning for the language sister monthly magazine Perspectiva Mundial, socialist candidates Militant/Tony Lane along with books on revolutionary politics like those ad- to sell revolutionary Romina Green, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio, talks to miner at Pinnacle Mine, vertised as part of the Pathfi nder super saver sale (see ad literature. owned by bankrupt Horizon Natural Resources, in West Virginia September 25. on page 6), is a complementary task to campaigning for “I wish you luck on the socialist slate. your campaign,” a coal miner at the Hobet mine near socialist workers sold the socialist paper to a total of 60 To facilitate these efforts, and taking into account the Charleston, West Virginia, told Brian Taylor as he stopped miners. Three signed up to subscribe. goals adopted by distributors in local areas and their per- to speak with him outside the mine entrance on September In Washington, D.C. SWP vice-presidential candidate formance the fi rst four weeks of the sub drive, the Militant 25. Taylor, a coal miner in southwestern Pennsylvania, is Arrin Hawkins attended a September 28 protest there by editors have lowered the international target to 2,300 Mili- the SWP candidate for U.S. Senate in that state. farmers fi ghting for land and against systematic racist dis- tant subscriptions. With this adjustment, campaigners can “I buy this paper every time you guys come out,” the crimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) go out confi dent that they are shooting for a realizable goal. West Virginia miner told Taylor, as he picked up a copy of against farmers who are Black. Nine farmers signed up to Campaigners are making plans to make maximum use of the Militant and a statement issued by the socialist cam- subscribe to the Militant. paign headlined “Support Horizon miners’ fi ght to maintain In Houston, campaign supporters are gearing up for a health care and pensions! Support their right to a union!” campaign visit by Hawkins in the coming week. Militant/Perspectiva Mundial Over the September 25–26 weekend a team of campaign “We’ve had quite a week in Houston,” reported Brian Fall Subscription Drive supporters from Pittsburgh and Cleveland visited several Williams. “We visited Tulane University in New Orleans mines in the Charleston area that were formerly owned by last weekend [September 25-26] and our campaign table Aug. 28–Nov. 7, 2004: Week 4 of 10 Horizon Natural Resources. was busy the whole day. Arrin Hawkins is scheduled to Militant PM On September 24, the Cannelton mine in Fayette County, speak at Tulane on October 2. Twenty students signed up to Country Goal Sold % Goal Sold now owed by Massey Energy, shut its doors, laying off meet her. Six students bought subscriptions to the paper at SWEDEN 30 20 67% 5 1 255 miners. That mine and six others organized by the the campus. We sold two more at a gathering that night to ICELAND 25 16 64% 2 0 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) were sold off celebrate getting the SWP ticket on the Louisiana ballot. NEW ZEALAND by Horizon. The pensions and medical benefi ts of 3,300 “Several students wearing Kerry T-shirts stopped by the Auckland 45 20 44% 1 0 miners and retirees connected to these mines were put on table and picked up campaign literature,” Williams contin- Christchurch 35 15 43% 1 0 N.Z. total 80 35 44% 2 0 the chopping block when a federal bankruptcy judge issued ued. “One, who told us he had volunteered to help register AUSTRALIA 55 21 38% 8 1 a ruling granting Horizon bosses the right to throw out the students to vote, picked up a dozen copies of the campaign UNITED KINGDOM provisions in the union contract on pensions and medical handout to give to his friends.” Williams said that the week- Edinburgh 25 10 40% 2 0 care. Coal miners with 20–30 years in the mine stand to end before, the socialist campaign got a warm response at London 50 14 28% 12 1 be left empty-handed. a Palestinian fi lm festival held at the Southern Methodist UK total 75 24 32% 12 1 Twenty-eight miners bought copies of the Militant at University in Dallas. Participants snapped up 37 books and UNITED STATES that mine. After visiting four mine portals in the area, the pamphlets and 13 subscribed to the Militant. Craig, CO 50 31 62% 20 2 Houston 75 44 59% 20 3 Seattle 50 29 58% 10 0 Birmingham 40 20 50% 8 1 Turkey’s entry into European Union Omaha 55 23 42% 45 7 Price, UT 50 20 40% 20 10 Continued from Page 3 farm products of EU member states are subsidized. The Twin Cities 105 41 39% 40 11 Detroit 40 14 35% 10 3 by Turkey’s parliament but “must be put into practice in subsidies primarily benefi t large capitalist farmers. Big Des Moines 65 22 34% 25 9 Turkish society” before the talks could begin. agribusiness dumps these cheap agricultural goods onto Newark 90 31 34% 25 11 “It’s important not to go soft on the criteria right now,” the markets of semicolonial countries, destroying the Atlanta 80 26 33% 20 5 added Gitte Seeburg, a leader of the conservative Chris- livelihoods of peasants in those countries. Tampa 40 13 33% 10 3 tian Democrats in Netherlands, and a member of the EU The ongoing debate over the extent and character of Washington 115 37 32% 21 2 parliament. government farm subsidies that give a competitive edge New York 180 55 31% 70 19 While attending a North Atlantic Treaty Organization to agricultural products from the strongest imperialist NE Pennsylvania 55 16 29% 15 9 meeting in June in Ankara, U.S. president George Bush countries within the EU has led to sharp exchanges be- Pittsburgh 65 18 28% 4 1 pressed for Turkey’s admittance to the EU. Chirac became tween London and Paris in particular. In one such clash, Los Angeles 150 41 27% 50 24 furious in response to this remarks, accusing Bush of med- Chirac postponed a traditional end-of-the-year meeting Philadelphia 95 25 26% 10 0 dling in European affairs. with British prime minister Anthony Blair. Boston 100 26 26% 40 5 Turkey, a NATO member, has an army larger than any of In 2002, the unequal application of the subsidy policy San Francisco 100 25 25% 25 3 the EU members and its military budget is exceeded only between the wealthy imperialist nations in the EU and Chicago 100 20 20% 40 11 by Britain, France, Germany, and Italy. Turkey has blocked the others became a stumbling block for 10 governments, Cleveland 35 6 17% 8 3 Miami 100 9 9% 50 0 with Washington to prevent the imperialist governments mainly from eastern Europe, which had applied to join U.S. total 1840 592 32% 586 142 of “Old Europe” from developing an EU military force the EU but were told they would not receive the same CANADA that could be effective independently of U.S.-led and - subsidies as current members. Montreal 32 12 38% 12 2 dominated NATO. They held out for a larger share and, in the end, ac- Toronto 85 22 26% 18 4 The admittance of Turkey, still a largely agricultural cepted a package totaling $42 billion between 2004 and CANADA total 117 34 29% 30 6 country, into the EU would also exacerbate one of the 2006. That amount was only 25 percent of what other 14-day campaign* - 179 - - 31 deepest confl icts within the European Union—the so- member states are entitled to. Parity is not forthcoming Int’l totals 2190 921 40% 664 182 called Common Agricultural Policy. Under this policy, until 2013, at best. Goal/Should be 2300 920 40% 550 220 *14 days of campaigning in New York Aug. 21–Sept. 3 at protests and events leading up to and during the Republican convention IN THE UNIONS Minnesota meat packers win union Militant PM Goal Goal Continued from front page threat of deportations. The union appealed the vote and AUSTRALIA days after the union vote. “One knife worker was pregnant, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that AMIEU 8 2 25% CANADA but she could not afford to take the pay cut she would get the company had to hold a second vote. UFCW 6 2 33% 3 2 while on light duty. So she kept on working her regular The success at Minnesota Beef puts Local 789 in a UNITE HERE 2 0 0% 1 0 job, which is very diffi cult. When she fi nally had her baby, better position to organize the 1,000 poultry workers Total 8 2 25% 4 2 it turned out that she also had a hernia.” who are also fi ghting for a union in the nearby town of NEW ZEALAND “We are here for work, not to be treated like animals,” Willmar, said Hess. MWU 2 1 50% said another boning worker who asked that his name not The union has so far failed to organize the workers at NDU 2 0 0% be used. “The line speed has gotten faster and faster. We the Jennie-O turkey processing plant there. Total 4 1 25% kill more than 300 cows in less than six hours. That is “Many workers have friends and relatives who work in SWEDEN Livs 2 0 0% 1 0 too fast and we can’t live on pay of just six hours a day. all these different plants and they all talk to each other,” ICELAND It’s for the company’s benefi t that we kill more cows and the UFCW organizer added. This also played a part in the Hlíf 2 1 50% they get more money. We just have three demands: better election victory in Buffalo Lake. Efl ing 2 0 0% treatment, better pay, and more hours.” “A lot of the workers also know people who work at Total 4 1 25% Buffalo Lake, a town of less than 800, is located about Long Prairie Packing and at Dakota Premium Foods,” UNITED STATES an hour and a half west of St. Paul. There are around 125 Hess said. At both of these plants the workers have won UFCW 135 47 35% 150 30 workers at the Minnesota Beef plant. unions. “The company said that if the Minnesota Beef UNITE HERE 50 15 30% 40 8 “This victory is testimony to how strong these work- workers got the union, they would be forced to pay $25 UMWA 30 5 17% 15 3 a week in union dues. But when one worker saw the pay- Total 215 67 31% 205 41 ers are,” Local 789 organizer Bernie Hess told Militant reporters. “This was made possible because of the unity check of his friend who works at Long Praire, he saw that they showed.” they only pay $6 for dues.” AMIEU—Australasian Meat Industry Employees’ Union; Unionists lost the previous vote on May 5 by a 67 to The union victory at Dakota Premium Foods came after Livs—Food Workers Union; MWU—Meat Workers Union; 32 margin. Many of the workers said the company had a two-year-long struggle that began with a seven-and-a- NDU—National Distribution Union; UFCW—United Food tried to intimidate them in the period leading up to that half hour sitdown strike in the company cafeteria in June and Commercial Workers; UMWA—United Mine Workers of vote. According to union offi cials, management said it 2000. It took workers one year to force a union election America. Hlíf—Union of Unskilled Workers in Hafnarfjörður. and win the vote, and one more year to force the company Efl ing—Union of Unskilled Workers in Reykjavík. would call the police to check the documents of workers, most of whom are immigrants from Mexico, raising the to sign a contract with UFCW Local 789. The Militant October 12, 2004 5 U.S. aid to Haiti now! Continued from front page colonial countries to acquire and BMCC students to campaign at a Club Info develop the energy sources nec- Fair, where student groups set up tables and essary to expand electrification, passed out literature about their activities. a prerequisite for economic and They spent all afternoon talking to youth social advances. “We also call for who came by the table—distributing cam- exposing the drive by Washington paign literature, selling the Militant, Per- and its allies to prevent the nations spectiva Mundial, and books, and inviting oppressed by imperialism—such as them to upcoming campaign activities. Brazil, Iran, India, and north Ko- During the program, in which members rea—from developing the sources of the student government and campus clubs of energy they need, including spoke, the SWP senatorial candidate was nuclear power,” he stated. invited to say a few words. Koppel pointed A number of youth who heard to the drive to cut wages, lengthen the work- the talk came over to the campaign week, speed up production, and roll back table to meet the socialists. “I really social gains that the employers and their agree with your message. I’d like to twin parties are carrying out. fi nd out more about this,” said one To defend themselves from this assault, student, Katrice. many workers are seeking to use their unions Afterward, Estevan Nembhard, or to organize unions, and the Socialist a member of the National Council Workers candidates support workers’ right of the Young Communist League to do so, he said. (YCL), affiliated with the Com- “Whether Republican Bush or Democrat munist Party USA, took the mike Kerry wins the elections, we can be sure that and took sharp issue with the SWP Militant/Paul Pederson the next administration is going to take the candidate. “How can someone call Arrin Hawkins (center), Socialist Workers Party vice-presidential candidate, at campaign table next steps in assaulting working people at himself a socialist, say he is for the during September 22 “Club Info Fair” at Borough of Manhattan Community College in New home and waging wars of plunder abroad,” working class, and tell people not York City. Dorothy Kolis (obscured behind Hawkins), SWP candidate for Congress in New Koppel said. “The Socialist Workers cam- to vote? You got to get Bush out of York’s 16th District, and Martín Koppel, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate in New York (with paign offers a working-class alternative to offi ce,” he said, arguing that voting tie), joined Hawkins at the fair at the invitation of the BMCC student government. these two parties of imperialist war and ex- for Kerry was the duty of everyone ploitation. Our campaign gives you a reason who supports progress. to gang up on working people. Revolution- the top priority of which is to squeeze more to vote for something you support, not vote In subsequent discussion between Nemb- ary leader Malcolm X had explained that profi ts out of the labor of working people. against someone you hate.” He pointed to hard, BMCC students, and Arrin Hawkins, the U.S. rulers “always show you a wolf to “With either the Democrats or the Repub- the example of the Cuban Revolution, where the Socialist Workers candidate for vice get you to run into the hands of the fox,” licans, working people lose,” the socialist workers and farmers took political power president of the United States, the YCL she said. vice-presidential candidate said. and transformed society in the interests of leader claimed that V.I. Lenin, the central “If you do vote, don’t waste it on a vote When students nodded in agreement as the majority. leader of the Bolshevik revolution, had for the Democrats or Republicans. Vote for Hawkins spoke, socialist campaigners ap- Koppel said that the Socialist Workers argued that revolutionaries had to be “with the working-class alternative, the Socialist proached them and invited them to come campaign platform starts with the world. the masses” and that today this meant sup- Workers ticket.” to the table to continue the discussion. After He pointed out that the situation in Haiti is porting the Democratic Party. Anyone who Hawkins said that the Bush administra- the end of the club fair, a debate among stu- not unique. More than 2 billion people in didn’t do so was lending support to the tion is not “fascist,” any more than the pre- dents continued at the student government the world, he said, one-third of humanity, “fascist” Bush, he said. vious Clinton administration was “liberal.” offi ces. don’t have access to any modern form of In response, Hawkins asked for the mi- Both of the two main capitalist parties, she In informal discussion with students, electricity. That’s why the socialist campaign crophone. She described how the U.S. rulers said, have shifted to the right and are car- Hawkins also pointed out that, unlike what supports the efforts of the power-poor semi- use the Democratic and Republican parties rying out the program of the ruling class, Nembhard said, Lenin forged the Bolshevik party to lead the workers and peasants of Russia in a revolution to take power out Questions posed in the 2004 elections aren’t new of the hands of capitalist exploiters. The October 1917 Russian Revolution, she Lessons for the struggles of today and tomorrow said, was also carried out against another “socialist” party, the Mensheviks, who were for class collaboration with the parties of PATHFINDER SUPERSAVER SALE the bourgeoisie. ALL PAMPHLETS $1 TO $3; ALL BOOKS $5 OR $10 After a successful day of campaigning, the socialists met with students to pursue The Lesser Evil? further opportunities for the SWP candi- by Jack Barnes The Changing Face of U.S. Politics dates to speak on campus. Why the “tactic” of backing Working-Class Politics and the Trade Unions The previous week a BMCC student who is a Militant subscriber interviewed Koppel candidates of any capitalist by Jack Barnes party will neither stop the for Voice of the Voiceless, a student paper. An invaluable guide to the struggle She also helped arrange for the socialist right-wing nor advance the for women’s liberation and its interests of working people. increased weight in working- campaigners to be invited to participate in “Let’s stop talking about in- class politics. This is a handbook the campus fair. dependent political action for workers, farmers, and youth Koppel is taking a leave from the Mili- and start talking about in- repelled by the class inequali- tant and Perspectiva Mundial staff for a dependent working-class ties, economic instability, racism, few weeks to campaign full-time. Socialist political action.”—Jack Barnes, 1965, women’s oppression, cop violence, Workers campaigners in New York are put- The Working Class and from one of the three debates collected and wars endemic to capitalism, ting together a plan of speaking engage- in this volume. the Transformation of Learning The Fraud of Education Reform Under and who are seeking the road to- ments, media interviews, campaigning at Capitalism — by Jack Barnes ward effective action to overturn plant gates and in workers districts, and $5 In English, Spanish, French, Swedish, and that exploitative system and join teams to Buffalo and other cities in the Icelandic. $3 in reconstructing the world on new, state. $1 socialist foundations. In English, On October 11, Koppel will take part Cuba and the Coming American Spanish, and French. $23 $10 in a debate with two other senatorial can- Revolution by Jack Barnes $13 $5 * ‡ didates, David McReynolds of the Green Capitalism’s World Disorder by Jack Barnes $23.95 * ‡ Party and Donald Silberger of the Liber- $10 tarians. The debate will take place at 7:30 THREE CLASSICS OF SOCIALISM Aspects of Socialist Election Policy $10 $3 p.m. at the State University of New York in •The Communist Manifesto What Is American Fascism? by James P. Cannon, Joseph Hansen $8 $3 New Paltz, about an hour and a half north by Karl Marx, Frederick Engels $3.95 $2 * of New York City. Problems of Women’s Liberation by Evelyn Reed $12.95 $5 •Socialism: Utopian and Scientific In Spanish, ¿Sexo contra sexo o clase contra clase? $18.85 $10 by Frederick Engels $4 $2 Abortion Is a Woman’s Right by Pat Grogan $4.50 $2 * •Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capital- ism by V.I. Lenin $10 $3 * The SWP 2004 ticket Notebook of an Agitator by James P. Cannon $21.95 $10 NEW INTERNATIONAL: is on ballot in: A MAGAZINE OF MARXIST POLITICS AND THEORY The Second Declaration of Havana $4.50 $2 * ‡ 1) Colorado ‘U.S. Imperialism Has Lost the Cold War’ by Teamster Rebellion $19 * 2) District of Columbia $10 Jack Barnes—from New International No. 11 We Are the Heirs of the World’s Revolutions $14 $10 * ‡ 3) Florida by Thomas Sankara $7 * ‡ $3 ‘Imperialism’s March Toward Fascism and 4) Iowa Trade Unions in the Epoch of War’ by Jack Barnes—from New International No. 10 5) Louisiana Imperialist Decay $14 $10 * ‡ by Leon Trotsky, with articles by Karl Marx and 6) Minnesota ‘Washington’s 50-year Domestic Contra Op- Farrell Dobbs $15 7) Mississippi $5 eration’ by Larry Seigle—from New International IN THE WORDS OF MALCOLM X No. 6 $15 $10 In Spanish 50 años de guerra 8) Nebraska •By Any Means Necessary $15.95 $5 encubierta [pamphlet] $7 $3 9) New Jersey •Habla Malcolm X $15.95 $5 ‘The Fight for a Workers and Farmers Gov- 10) New York ernment in the United States’ by Jack Barnes •Malcolm X Talks to Young People 11) Utah ‘The Crisis Facing Working Farmers’ by Doug [pamphlet] $4 $2 Jenness—from New International No. 4 $14 $10 12) Washington * available in Spanish ‡ available in French 13) Wisconsin ORDER ONLINE AT: WWW.PATHFINDERPRESS.COM 14) Vermont Also available in bookstores, including those listed on page 8. Offer good until Nov. 7, 2004.

6 The Militant October 12, 2004 Calero in California

Continued from front page in conjunction with a California state SWP our campaigning in California.” nominating convention, which approved Calero said the proposals for individual Richter’s campaign for the U.S. Senate and retirement and health-care accounts recently mapped campaign activities for the next promoted by the Bush administration are fi ve weeks. part of preparing the way for a stepped-up Richter chaired the public meeting. “We offensive by Democrats and Republicans will take the campaign to college campuses, against Social Security, Medicare, and factory gates, and street corners in working- other social conquests of working people. class neighborhoods in Los Angeles, San “The capitalists view us as a problem,” he Francisco, and other cities,” Richter said. said. “They say we are living too long. This “We will look for every opportunity to speak is part of their effort to tear apart the work- to the media.” ing class, our solidarity. We can fi ght against As part of his campaign, Richter said, he this offensive only by joining workers and will be joining the October 2 rally in Price, farmers resisting the effects of the capitalist Utah, to extend his solidarity and join with crisis and presenting a program that has at coal miners in celebrating the one-year an- its center active support for the struggle of niversary of their struggle to win representa- the working class to organize unions, labor’s tion by the United Mine Workers of America basic defense organizations.” (UMWA) at the Co-Op mine there. At the meeting, the socialists also an- Bill Estrada, a Co-Op miner, also ad- Militant/Frank Forrestal nounced they are organizing to collect the dressed the campaign event, as did Chessie Dennis Richter, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate in California, talks to United Farm required signatures to obtain offi cial write- Molano, the SWP candidate for Congress Workers member Roberto García at September 26 Progressive Festival in Petaluma. in status for Richter, as well as Calero and in the state’s 8th District, and Connie Al- his running mate Arrin Hawkins. Election len, the SWP candidate for U.S. Senate in laws across the United States are crafted by Washington State. The majority will vote for either Bush or The Co-Op miners returned on the job state legislatures largely to maintain a ballot “I support the Socialist Workers Party Kerry, but the only alternative worth fi ghting after a strike that lasted almost 10 months, monopoly for the Democrats and Republi- campaign because it offers a voice for work- for is the Socialist Workers ticket.” Estrada pointed out. The workers’ effort to cans. The California law is among the most ing people,” said Estrada. “This is the work- Estrada encouraged those present to win representation by the UMWA, however, onerous, requiring any other party to collect ing-class alternative I am fi ghting for.” come with fellow unionists to the October is far from over, he noted. “We forced the 77,389 signatures from registered voters to The coal miner noted that the socialist 2 one-year anniversary rally in Price. He National Labor Relation Board to rule that qualify for the state ballot, unless that party campaign’s support for workers’ right to said he was glad to hear that Calero was the Co-Op bosses illegally fi red us. We got polled at least two percent of the vote in the organize unions is very important. Estrada planning to attend the event. “Calero is the our jobs back in July, but ongoing solidar- previous election. said Calero is the only presidential candidate only presidential candidate who has visited ity is crucial to the next stages of the fi ght About 40 people attended the Septem- “who is defending the labor movement from the Co-Op miners and given us solidarity,” to win unionization. We face an everyday ber 25 meeting. The event was organized the continuing offensive by the employers. said Estrada. battle on the job.” During the campaign meeting, Richter introduced the California SWP slate of candidates running for U.S. Congress. In SWP campaign director: ‘Let’s not lose a day till Nov. 2’ addition to Molano, these include Mark Gilsdorf in the 21st C.D. in San Francisco, BY DOUG NELSON speak, including the weekly Militant Labor work to campaign full-time. Seth Dellinger in the 33rd C.D., Wendy “There are fi ve weeks to go from today Forums. This is also a time when campaign Public meetings, like Militant Labor Lyons in the 34th C.D., and Naomi Craine until the November 2 election. Let’s not lose directors in states across the country can be Forums, offer a chance to have a back- in the 35th C.D. The latter three are districts a day in taking advantage of the openings spokespeople for the SWP ticket,” he said. and-forth discussion on how the socialist in the Los Angeles area. that are available everywhere to campaign Sandler pointed to what Róger Calero and campaign addresses vital questions in world In her remarks to the meeting, Molano for the SWP candidates!” said Norton Arrin Hawkins—the socialist candidates for politics, and to explain and popularize the appealed for messages to be sent to the Sandler, national director of the Socialist president and vice-president—had done the party’s platform. “Having local SWP can- mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, protest- Workers Party campaign, in a September previous three days as examples that can didates mix it up by speaking at different ing the September 11 fi rebombing of the 28 letter to campaign organizers around the be emulated everywhere. This included campaign centers, beyond their city or state, Socialist Workers campaign hall there (see United States. campaigning by Calero in California (see will also serve to strengthen each candidate’s article on page 10). “In every area, we should be pressing front-page article) as well as at Stony Brook presentations by drawing on various expe- Supporters of the socialist ticket in Cali- right now to arrange speaking engagements University in Long Island, New York. In the riences in different areas of the country,” fornia raised $1,800 at the meeting toward on campuses and elsewhere, and media in- latter example, Martín Koppel, SWP can- Sandler said. their goal of $3,000 to fi nance the SWP terviews for both local SWP candidates and didate for U.S. Senate in New York, joined Sandler added that SWP candidates 2004 campaign. the presidential ticket,” Sandler continued. Calero in speaking at three classes, at the and their supporters should be talking to “We should be soap boxing at busy areas invitation of a faculty member. A reporter workers and distributing campaign litera- in working-class districts, including trans- for National Public Radio accompanied the ture regularly in front of factory gates and portation centers and factory gates, where socialist candidates and their supporters the mine portals over the next month, along appropriate.” whole day, which began with campaigning with selling the Militant and Perspectiva This includes making sure that every at a building full of garment factories in Mundial and books on revolutionary Militant Labor Forum between now and the Midtown Manhattan. As we go to press, politics. election has a campaign focus, Sandler said. Calero was campaigning in the Des Moines, In another interview, Militant editor Ar- Militant Labor Forums are public meetings Iowa, area (see SWP candidates’ schedule giris Malapanis said that all local organizers organized in cities and towns across the below). of the Socialist Workers campaign should country on Friday nights by supporters of On September 28, Hawkins campaigned make sure that photos are taken of SWP the campaign newspaper, the Militant and at a farmers’ rally in Washington, D.C., to candidates in action and sent to the Militant its Spanish-language sister publication Per- demand an end to anti-Black discrimination every couple of days. “In addition to articles spectiva Mundial. they have suffered at the hands of U.S. gov- giving a feel for each presentation by the “Working-class candidates have no equal ernment agencies (see article on page 10). socialist candidates and the exchanges with time on TV, radio, or other media, even She then traveled to Tampa, Florida, and was their audiences, pictures are vital for getting where we are on the ballot,” Sandler pointed scheduled to campaign next in New Orleans, across what the socialists are doing,” he said. out. “We don’t have millions of dollars to Houston, and Cleveland. “No other paper will give such prominent buy expensive commercials on television to Two candidates for U.S. Senate, Martín and regular coverage of the SWP campaign Militant/Julian Santana Róger Calero speaking at September 25 get out the message of our campaign. So we Koppel in New York and Dennis Richter in for the next fi ve weeks. Let the photos and campaign rally in San Francisco. must use every opportunity for candidates to California, have taken several weeks off articles roll!”

SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY Dennis Richter, U.S. Senate, California Oct. 2 Co-Op miners Anniversary event, 2004 CAMPAIGN SCHEDULE Price, Utah Oct. 4 Napa Valley College “Rock the Roger Calero, President Arrin Hawkins, Vice President Vote” campus meeting Sept. 29–30 Des Moines, Iowa Sept. 29 Washington, D.C. Oct. 5 U.C. Berkeley, plantgate cam- Oct. 2–3 Price, Utah Sept. 30–Oct. 1 Tampa, Florida paigning at SF meatpacking plant Oct. 5–6 Minnesota Oct. 2 New Orleans Oct. 6 U.C. Santa Cruz Oct. 7 Omaha Oct. 3–4 Houston Oct. 7 Campus meeting at SFSU, cam- Oct. 8 St. Louis Oct. 5–6 Cleveland paigning with United Airlines Oct. 9 Tampa Oct. 7–8 Chicago workers Oct. 10–11 Miami Oct. 9 Wisconsin Oct. 8 Campaigning at Longshore hall Oct. 12–13 Atlanta Oct. 10–11 Detroit in San Francisco Oct. 14 Houston Oct. 12–13 Pittsburgh Oct. 9 Campaign event at Militant Labor Oct. 15–17 Alabama and Oct. 14–15 Boston Forum hall in San Francisco Mississippi

The Militant October 12, 2004 7 The first 10 years of American communism Below is an excerpt from The First Ten mous decision: (1) to legalize the party; Years of American Communism, one of (2) to recommend that the party advocate Pathfi nder’s Books of the Month for Sep- and work for the construction of a labor tember. It tells the story of the early years party based on the trade unions; and (3) of the effort to build a proletarian party to appeal to the seceding leftists to return modeled on the Bolshevik leadership of the to the party, assuring them a welcome and Russian Revolution. The author, James P. rightful place in its ranks. Cannon, was a founding member of the That was one time when a great problem Communist Party of the United States of American communism, which it had not following the Russian Revolution, and its been able to solve by itself, was settled con- delegate to the Executive Committee of the clusively and defi nitely by the Comintern Comintern and its Fourth Congress. In the for the good of the movement. All subsequent experience demonstrated the absolute correctness of this decision. It is appalling to think what would have been BOOKS OF the fate of the American communist move- ment without the help of the Comintern in this instance. The two factions were so THE MONTH evenly matched in strength, and the left- ists were so fanatically convinced that they were defending a sacred principle, excerpt below, “The ‘American question’ that a defi nitive victory for the liquidators at the Fourth Congress,” Cannon describes Founding convention of the Communist Party, held in Chicago, September 1919. within a united movement could not be the role played by the Russian leaders of contemplated. the Comintern in resolving political differ- The main energies of the American ences among the various currents that were Copyright © 1962 by Pathfi nder Press. port of the position of the liquidators. communists would have been consumed locked in factional battle over the way for- Reprinted by permission. Their speeches were truly brilliant ex- in the internal struggle, at the expense ward to building the party. L.E. Katterfi eld O positions of the whole question of legal of public propaganda and the recruit- and Rose Pastor Stokes led the current that and illegal organization, richly illustrated ment of new forces. The prospect was said the party must remain an underground BY JAMES P. CANNON from the experience of the Russian move- one of unending factional struggles and organization. They opposed the group led Soon afterward, the formal sessions of ment. They especially demonstrated that disintegrating splits until the movement by Max Bedacht, Arne Swabeck, Cannon the American Commission of the Fourth the central thesis of the underground left- exhausted itself, while the great country and others who wanted to liquidate under- Congress were started. The Russians ists, namely, that the party had to retain its rolled along and paid no attention to it. ground functioning and take advantage of showed their decided interest in the ques- underground organization as a matter of The intervention of Trotsky, and then of wider opportunities in the United States tion by sending a full delegation—Zino- principle, was false. It was, they explained, the Russian party and the Comintern, to expand communist political work. viev, Radek and Bukharin—to the Com- purely a practical question of facts and pos- saved us from that. mission. sibilities in a given political atmosphere. This decision showed the Comintern at Nothing was hurried. There was a full and They especially castigated the tendency its best, in its best days, as the wise leader “ fair debate, in a calm and friendly atmo- to transplant mechanically the Russian and coordinator of the world movement. sphere. Nobody got excited but the Ameri- experiences under the Czar, where all Its role in this crucial struggle of the infant BOOKS cans. Katterfeld and I were given about an forms of political opposition were legally movement of American communism was September hour each to expound the confl icting posi- proscribed, to America which still retained completely realistic, in accord with the na- OF THE MONTH tions of the contending factions. Rose Pas- its bourgeois democratic system intact tional political conditions and necessities tor Stokes, Bedacht and others were called and where the Workers Party was already of that time. Moreover, the Russian lead- upon to supplement the remarks of the main conducting a satisfactory communist ers, to whom American communism owed Malcolm X: The Last Speeches reporters on both sides. A representative of propaganda without legal interference. this great debt, showed themselves to be By Malcolm X the seceding underground leftist group was Illegal underground work, said Zinoviev, completely objective, fair and friendly “Any kind of move- also given the fl oor. is a cruel necessity in certain conditions; to all, but very defi nite and positive on ment for freedom of Then the big guns began to boom. First but one must not make a fetish of it, and important political questions. Black people based Zinoviev, then Radek and then Bukharin. resort to costly and cumbersome under- I always remembered their friendly help solely within the The noncommittal attitude they had previ- ground activities, when legal possibilities in this affair with the deepest gratitude. Per- confi nes of America ously shown in our personal conversations are open. He told an amusing story of an haps that was one reason why I could never is absolutely doomed with them, which had caused us such ap- old Bolshevik underground worker who reconcile myself to the campaign against to fail.” Speeches and prehension, was cast aside. They showed insisted on carrying her old false passport them and their eventual expulsion a few interviews from the a familiarity with the question which even after the Bolsheviks had taken over years later. I could never believe that they last two years of his indicated that they had discussed it thor- the state power. had become “enemies of the revolution,” life $17.00 oughly among themselves. They all spoke The result of the discussion in the and I believe it even less today, 32 years emphatically and unconditionally in sup- American Commission was the unani- afterward. Feminism and the Marxist Movement By Mary-Alice Waters IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP Since the founding of the modern revo- Where to find distrib u tors of the Zip: 48244-0739. Tel: (313) 554-0504. 9698. E-mail: [email protected] lutionary workers movement over 150 Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, and E-mail: [email protected] CANADA years ago, Marxists have championed the New International, and a full display of MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 113 Bernard St., struggle for women’s rights and explained Pathfi nder books. West St. Paul. Zip: 55118. Tel: (651) 644- QUEBEC: Montreal: 6955 Boul the economic roots in class society of 6325. E-mail: [email protected] St-Michel, Suite 202. Postal code: H2A women’s oppression. UNITED STATES 2Z3. Tel: (514) 284-7369. E-mail: lc_ NEBRASKA: Omaha: P.O. Box 7005. Zip: [email protected] $3.50 ALABAMA: Birmingham: 3029A 68107. E-mail: [email protected] ONTARIO: Toronto: 2238 Dundas St. Bessemer Road. Zip: 35208. Tel: (205) 780- NEW JERSEY: Newark: 168 Bloomfi eld 0021. E-mail: [email protected] West, Suite 201, M6r 3A9 Tel: (416) 535- The First Ten Years of Avenue, 2nd Floor. Zip: 07104. Tel: (973) 9140. E-mail: [email protected] American CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 4229 481-0077. E-mail: [email protected] FRANCE Communism S. Central Ave. Zip: 90011. Tel: (323) NEW YORK: Manhattan: 306 W. 37th 233-9372. E-mail: [email protected] By James P Cannon Street, 10th floor. Zip: 10018. Tel: (212) Paris: P.O. 175, 23 rue Lecourbe. San Fran cisco: 3926 Mission St. Zip: 629-6649. E-mail: [email protected] Postal code: 75015. Tel: (01) 40-10-28-37. An account of the early 94112. Tel: (415) 584-2135. E-mail:swpsf E-mail: [email protected] years of the U.S. com- @sbcglobal.net OHIO: Cleveland: 11018 Lorain Ave. munist movement by a Zip: 44111. Tel: (216) 688-1190. E-mail: ICELAND COLORADO: Craig: 11 West Victory [email protected] founding leader. $20.00 Way, Suite 205. Zip: 81625. Mailing address: Reykjavík: Skolavordustig 6B. Mailing P.O. Box 1539. Zip: 81626. Tel: (970) 824- PENNSYLVANIA: Hazleton: 69 North address: P. Box 0233, IS 121 Reykjavík. Tel: 6380.E-mail: [email protected] Wyoming St. Zip: 18201. Tel: (570) 454- 552 1202. E-mail: [email protected] Genocide Against the Indians 8320. Email: [email protected] By George Novack FLORIDA: Miami: 8365 NE 2nd Philadelphia: 5237 N. 5th St. Zip: 19120. NEW ZEALAND Ave. #206 Zip: 33138. Tel: (305) 756- Why did the leaders Tel: (215) 324-7020. E-mail: Philadelphia Auckland: Suite 3, 7 Mason Ave., of the Europeans 4436. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Pittsburgh: 5907 Penn Tampa: 1441 E. Fletcher, Suite 421. Otahuhu. Postal address:P.O. Box 3025. Tel: who settled in North Ave. Suite 225. Zip. 15206. Tel: (412) 365- (9) 276-8885.E-mail: milpath.auckland@ac Zip: 33612. Tel: (813) 910-8507. E-mail: 1090. E-mail: [email protected] America try to exter- [email protected] trix.gen.nz minate the peoples TEXAS: Houston: 4800 W. 34th St. Suite already living there? GEORGIA: Atlanta: 2791 Lakewood Christchurch: Gloucester Arcade, C-51A. Zip: 77092. Tel: (713) 869-6550. E- 129 Gloucester St. Postal address: P.O. How was the cam- Ave. Zip: 30315. Mailing address: P.O. Box mail: [email protected] paign of genocide 162515. Zip 30321. Tel: (404) 768-1709. Box 13-969. Tel: (3) 365-6055. E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] UTAH: Price: 11 W. Main St. Rm. pathfi [email protected] against the Indians 103. Zip: 84501 Tel: (435) 613-1091. linked to the expan- ILLINOIS: Chicago: 3557 S. Archer Ave. [email protected] SWEDEN sion of capitalism in Zip: 60609. Tel: (773) 890-1190. E-mail: the United States? ChicagoPathfi [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C.: 3717 B Stockholm: Bjulvägen 33, kv, S-122 41 Enskede. Tel: (08) 31 69 33. E-mail: Noted Marxist George Novack answers Georgia Ave. NW, Ground floor. Zip: IOWA: Des Moines: 3720 6th Ave. 20010. Tel: (202) 722-1315. E-mail: [email protected] these questions. $4.50 Zip: 50313. Tel: (515) 288-2970. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] UNITED KINGDOM Join the WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 Rainier ENGLAND: London: 47 The Cut. Postal Pathfi nder Read ers Club MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 12 Avenue South. Zip: 98118-2439. Tel: (206) Bennington St., 2nd Floor, East Boston. code: SE1 8LF. Tel: 020-7928-7993. E-mail: for $10 and re ceive 323-1755. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] discounts all year long Mailing address: P.O. Box 261. Zip: 02128. Tel: (617) 569-9169. E-mail: AUSTRALIA SCOTLAND: Edinburgh: First Floor, [email protected] ORDER ONLINE AT Sydney: 1st Flr, 3/281-287 Beamish St., 3 Grosvenor St., Haymarket. Postal Code: WWW.PATHFINDERPRESS.COM MICHIGAN: Detroit: 4208 W. Vernor Campsie, NSW 2194. Mailing ad dress: P.O. EH12 5ED. Tel: 0131-226-2756. E-mail: OFFER GOOD UNTIL JUNE 30 St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 44739. Box 164, Campsie, NSW 2194. Tel: (02) 9718 [email protected] 8 The Militant October 12, 2004 GREAT SOCIETY A spreading disease—PROVI- reached an all-time high of 5,686 books across the border to Mexico commissioners voted to raise tolls erator at Anniston marked its fi rst DENCE, Rhode Island—“Advo- people.”—News item. where a $100 book can be copied on the Sanibel Island bridge from year of operation... Managers say cates for the homeless erected a for as little as $13, and the book $3 to $6. Discount tolls for resi- it has destroyed more than 34,000 tent city at the foot of the State- Oink, oink—ORLANDO, then returned. School officials dents and commuting workers will rockets and 343,000 pounds of Florida—“The Judicial Qualifi ca- warned this was illegal and federal be raised from 50 cents to $3. The sarin nerve agent. More than tions Commission accused Judge action could be taken. tolls are expected to reduce traffi c 4 million pounds of sarin, VX Alan Todd of chastising a deputy on the deteriorating 40-year-old and blister agent remain to be Harry sheriff who had a child out of wed- Where your money goes— bridge.”—News item. burned.”—News item. lock, saying she was ‘a disgrace to Big-time drug dealers have a Ring society,’ ‘had no morals’ and her long-standing argument to justify Plain talk—“WASHING- New recipe?—With poultry child was ‘a bastard.’ Todd told their outrageous rip-off prices for TON—The military’s system for processed by the trillions, fl avor the deputy ‘it is acceptable for a their products. That is the claim compensating soldiers who be- has pretty well vanished. A few male to have sex before mar- that they spend a bundle for re- come sick, injured or wounded can select chickens are available in house to highlight the lack of riage, but if a female does so, she search to develop new medicines. be as unforgiving as the battlefi eld: posh stores, like in Los Angeles, low-income and affordable hous- is not respected and considered a Last year, drug companies spent Fewer than one in 10 applicants for a mere $6 a pound. Now its ing in the [low population] state tramp.’”—USA Today. $3.9 billion—22 percent of in- receive the disability payments reported that Banquet frozen and to lobby for better conditions come—advertising name-brand applied for.”—Associated Press. chicken breasts have had a major at shelters. Soaring rents made Education and morality—At and over-the-counter products. recall because they contained housing unaffordable for about the University of Texas, Browns- And that’s just the surplus— pieces of metal. Maybe the metal half the state’s renters and last ville, a low-income area, students That’s capitalism—SANIBEL ANNISTON, Alabama—“The was added to lend some snap to year homeless shelter admissions have been taking high-cost text- ISLAND, Florida—“Lee County Army’s chemical weapons incin- the rubbery quality? Rumsfeld defends global repositioning of U.S. military NATO agrees to deploy 300 officers near Baghdad to train Iraqi armed forces

BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS available on the Korean peninsula.… We U.S. defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld know that sheer numbers of people are no testifi ed September 23 before the Senate longer appropriate measures of commit- Armed Services Committee in Washington ment or capabilities.” on rearranging the Pentagon’s “Global Pos- To back up his point, Rumsfeld quoted a ture.” At the hearing, Rumsfeld defended statement that Democratic senator Joseph the repositioning of the U.S. military around Lieberman had made weeks earlier. Li- the world that has been going on for the last eberman said Kim Jong Il, the president of three-and-a-half years and is projected to north Korea, “is not under any misconcep- continue for at least another half-decade. tions. We have enormous power at sea, in A day earlier, the North Atlantic Treaty the air, on the ground, in the Asian-Pacifi c Organization (NATO) agreed to deploy 300 region, and on the Korean peninsula. And offi cers to train the Iraqi military, overcom- if he tries to take aggressive action against ing resistance from a few members, partic- the South Koreans, he will pay a very, very ularly the French government. NATO will heavy price.” set up its military academy in Rustamaniya, The second thrust along which the U.S. outside Baghdad. Forty NATO offi cers who military’s global posture is changing, the have been in Iraq for weeks have already secretary of defense said, is the “concept started this process. that American troops should be located in “Today’s decision by NATO to establish environments that are hospitable to their a major collective training program marks movements. Because U.S. soldiers may be a major step by the alliance,” said Nicholas called to a variety of locations to engage Burns, the U.S. ambassador to NATO. extremists at short notice, we need to be The move expands the world reach of the able to deploy them to trouble spots quick- imperialist military alliance. It coincides ly. Yet over time, some host countries and or with efforts led by Washington to transform their neighbors have imposed restrictions Reuters/Bob Strong NATO’s forces into rapid reaction units that on the movement and use of our forces. Iraqi interim minister of defence Hazem al Sha’alan (left) briefs the media with U.S. can be deployed quickly around the globe. So it makes sense to place a premium on Admiral Greg Johnson following a July 6 NATO delegation meeting in Baghdad. It also jibes with the transformation of the developing more fl exible legal and support Johnson headed the fi rst NATO mission to Iraq after the recent summit in Istanbul U.S. military. arrangements with our allies and partners where NATO members only reached vague accord to help train the Iraqi military. “We have entered an era where enemies where we might choose to locate, deploy are in small cells scattered across the globe,” or exercise our troops.” said Rumsfeld in his September 23 testi- The Turkish government, for example, a mony. “Yet America’s forces continue to be NATO member, did not allow its soil to be 25 AND 50 YEARS AGO arranged especially to fi ght large armies, used for the U.S. armed forces to transport navies, and air forces, and in support of an troops for launching a northern front in their approach—static deterrence—that does not invasion of Iraq last year. apply to enemies who have no territories to Thirdly, Rumsfeld said, “we need to be 25 AND 50 defend and no treaties to honor. in places that allow our troops to be useable “We are still situated in a large part as if and fl exible. As the President has noted, the little has changed for the last 50 years—as 1991 Gulf War was a stunning victory. But October 12, 1979 No, the “threat” Carter is mobilizing if, for example, Germany is still bracing for it took six months of planning and transport The actions announced by President against is the workers and peasants of a Soviet tank invasion across the northern to summon our fl eets and divisions and posi- Carter in his October 1 speech are ominous Latin America, who want to determine for plain. In South Korea, our troops were virtu- tion them for battle. In the future, we cannot steps toward war. themselves the kind of social system they ally frozen in place from where they were expect to have that kind of time.” Carter is sending warships into the Ca- live under, without U.S. interference. when the Korean War ended in 1953.” To accomplish this goal, the Pentagon is ribbean, establishing a military command For these reasons, Washington has de- planning smaller, light armored brigades center at Key West, and beefi ng up “Rapid October 11, 1954 veloped a new strategy for redeploying its with greater independent powers of com- Deployment Forces” for military interven- forces, Rumsfeld said, which is centered mand, which can move anywhere in the tions in other countries. The main battle-line of human freedom around four main points. world within days. These would replace the Carter has also ordered a landing of is not on the Rhine or in the China Sea. “A fi rst notion is that our troops should larger divisions reliant on tanks and other 1,600 to 1,800 Marines at Guantánamo It’s right here in the good old U.S.A. It’s be located in places where they are wanted, heavy armor that were used to amass more Naval Base in Cuba, complete with assault the line where the battle is joined against welcomed, and needed,” Rumsfeld said. “In than 530,000 troops for the 1991 imperialist ships and heavy artillery. This provocative discrimination and segregation imposed on some cases, the presence and activities of assault on Iraq. “exercise”—carried out on Cuban soil 15,000,000 Negro Americans. our forces grate on local populations and After succeeding quickly in expelling the occupied against the wishes of the Cuban The white supremacist bosses have have become an irritant for host govern- Iraqi army from its expansionist invasion people—is an outrageous violation of Cu- unleashed terror against young Negroes ments. The best example is our massive of Kuwait then, U.S. troops stopped short ban sovereignty. who have dared to exercise their right to headquarters in some of the most valuable of marching toward Baghdad because of These moves constitute a clear threat to non-segregated schools—a right upheld real estate in Seoul—Korea’s capital city— strong opposition from members of the use U.S. military might against Cuba and even by the conservative Supreme Court. long a sore point for many South Koreans. U.S.-led coalition—especially Paris, Berlin, against other countries of the Caribbean Those who would draw the iron curtain of Under our proposed changes, that headquar- Moscow, and Beijing. To avoid repetition of and Central America. inequality between the Negro child and full ters will be moved to a location well south that eventuality, the U.S. rulers have now Carter’s threats are especially aimed free educational opportunity are openly en- of the capital.” shifted to the concept of the “coalition of at the people of Nicaragua, who recently gaged in force and violence. Answering critics of the Bush adminis- the willing.” This implies no permanent alli- toppled the murderous dictatorship of the These evil elements are the very ones tration who have charged that it has weak- ances tied to treaties that impose constraints Somoza family, imposed on them forty-fi ve who would go to any lengths to keep orga- ened Washington’s military capabilities by on Washington, and a varying set of allied years ago by Washington. And the threats nized labor down. They oppress the white moving U.S. troops away from the so-called regimes from task to task—as, for example, are directed at the people of El Salvador, workers in the South especially, smash Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that has divid- has been the case in the recent imperialist Honduras, and Guatemala, where tens of unions, break strikes. They keep alive the ed the Korean peninsula since the 1950s, wars on Afghanistan and Iraq. thousands of workers, peasants, and young fl ames of race hatred to destroy the unity and reducing the overall number of U.S. “In the last few years, we have built people are trying to get rid of brutal U.S.- of black and white workers. troops stationed there, Rumsfeld said: “In new relationships with countries that are backed military regimes. This is American labor’s battle. The chal- fact, our partnership with the Republic of central to the fi ght against extremists—in Why is Carter undertaking these ag- lenge to the rights of Negro school children Korea is a good example of what we hope places such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and gressive actions? Because of the presence is a challenge to the freedom of all Ameri- to accomplish. The Defense Department Uzbekistan,” Rumsfeld said. “We also of a few thousand Soviet troops in Cuba? can workers. It must be met by the mighty has been investing in and making arrange- have strong partnerships with the newly Carter admits these have been in place for resistance of the whole labor movement. ments for improved capabilities—such as liberated nations of Eastern Europe. We years and could not possibly attack this Let every union throw its full moral and long range precision weaponry—to be Continued on Page 11 country. material strength into this fi ght.

The Militant October 12, 2004 9 EDITORIALS Farmers rally Defend freedom of speech! in Washington Send funds to help defeat lawsuit by Co-Op bosses BY SAM MANUEL WASHINGTON, D.C.—Just over 100 farmers and their We urge our readers to join the the United Mine struggle in dispute and to work with all the news organiza- Militant, supporters rallied here September 28 to protest decades- Workers of America, the Co-Op miners fi ghting to win tions named above, and many others, to expand this kind old anti-Black discrimination by the U.S. Department of representation by the UMWA, the Socialist Workers 2004 of publicity. Agriculture (USDA). The action was called to coincide with campaign, Socialist Workers Party, Political Rights Defense The its editor, its web administrator, and 20 Militant, a hearing by the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Fund, numerous media, trade unions, and other organiza- reporters occupy a weighty section in the Kingstons’ law- Committee on complaints by farmers that the USDA had tions in protesting the lawsuit by the owners of C.W. Mining suit. Their legal brief devotes 24 of its 76 pages to citations failed to implement a 1999 consent decree that settled a against us and more than 100 other defendants. from some 50 articles, two editorials, and one letter to the class-action suit by farmers known as Pigford v Glickman. We also urge you to send in contributions right away to editor the has published over the last year. What Militant Daniel Glickman was secretary of agriculture in the Clinton help the in mounting a legal and public defense are the alleged “defamations”? Overwhelmingly, statements Militant administration. (see address on page 2). by workers, UMWA representatives, and other unionists In Pigford, a federal judge decreed a settlement out of Given this turn of events, we wholeheartedly agree with and supporters of this union-organizing struggle describ- court. The government agreed to give each of the farmers the Co-Op miners that building their October 2 anniversary ing the miserable wages, unsafe working conditions, and who could provide minimal evidence of discrimination rally in Price, Utah, takes on additional signifi cance. indignities by the bosses against Co-Op miners, as well as between 1981 and 1996 a $50,000 tax-exempt payment, The Co-Op bosses have the gall to charge the UMWA the actions by these workers to band together in order to debt forgiveness, and preferential treatment on future loan and a number of its offi cers and organizers with “unfair form a union to fi ght the employers and win. applications. In numerous public meetings over the last year, labor practices.” This is after the National Labor Relations An article by Anne Carroll published in the Nov. 3, 2003, farmers have presented ample evidence showing that Wash- Board found in June that the Co-Op miners had been fi red , for example, is among the numerous, and often Militant ington didn’t come close to meeting those promises. illegally and ordered the company to take back the work- lengthy, citations. “The article also republished the follow- “Five years after the settlement and still no check,” said ers. ing defamatory statements,” the Kingstons’ brief claims. John Boyd from Virginia, who is president of the National This lawsuit, however, is not only an attack on work- The fi rst is a quote by Ernie Herrera, a UMWA retiree Black Farmers Association (NBFA), shaking his head. ers’ elementary right to organize a union. It’s an attack who worked 23 years at the Hiawatha mine near Co-Op, Two busloads of farmers and their supporters came from on freedom of the press. It’s an attack on free speech. The who said: “I’m proud of you guys. Everyone knows the Virginia. Farmers also came from Georgia, Alabama, Mis- mine bosses in Utah who fi led the suit—along with the Kingstons have been abusing the people at this mine for sissippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas. so-called International Association of United Workers years. They think they are above the law.” “This fight is not new,” Boyd continued. “It hasn’t Union, which miners say convincingly is a creation of the The article also quoted Celso Panduro, one of the Co-Op changed from administration to administration. In regards Kingstons to keep out a real union—are trying to silence miners, stating: “The day we united against the owners is to the Black farmers the Democrats and Republicans are those who have backed the Co-Op workers’ struggle for because we had hit a wall. Every time we had asked for both guilty.” living wages, safe working conditions, and human dignity. better working conditions they told us to keep our heads Thomas Burrell, president of the National Black Farmers The Kingstons are trying to intimidate us, to prevent us down and keep working or we could be out the door.” and Agriculturalists Association (BFFA), Inc., castigated from telling the truth. The is proud to have published such articles Militant demands by USDA offi cials that the farmers should have These Utah mine bosses need to know that their lawsuit providing the facts and editorials siding with the workers. one group the department could talk with. “The USDA will have the opposite effect. The is joining the We stand by them. Militant recognizes hundreds of organizations of white farmers but Co-Op miners, their union, and other labor and news or- As we have said in previous editorials, this is the most they want to tell Black farmers they must have one group,” ganizations in an unremitting struggle to dismiss the suit important labor struggle in the United States today. With he noted. “We are all here today as one.” or to defeat the Kingstons if the case goes to trial. In the their determined struggle to win, aided by expanding sup- A week before the rally, several farmers’ groups formed process, the truth about this wealthy capitalist family at the port from the labor movement in this country and beyond, a new coalition called the Congress of Black Farmer Or- center of the offensive against labor in the western United the Co-Op miners are setting an example of how to effec- ganizations. Among them, said Burrell, are BFFA, Inc., States will be told and heard much more widely. tively resist the bosses’ offensive. The stakes are high. If the NBFA, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and the The suit the mine bosses fi led names the following publi- Kingstons prevail, the mine barons everywhere will have Arkansas Land Development Fund. cations and other media as defendants, in the order cited in blood in their mouths to intensity their assault on labor. If The group has fi led a new class-action suit against the their legal brief (already posted on www.themilitant.com): the miners succeed, they will have given a much needed USDA seeking $20 billion in damages. The lawsuit charges boost to the UMWA in the West and beyond, and to thou- United Mine Workers Journal, The Militant, Salt Lake Tri- the USDA with discrimination in loans and processing of sands of others fi ghting to organize unions or strengthen bune, Deseret Morning News, Emery County Progress, credit applications, and failure to promptly investigate rac- Price Provo those they already have. Sun Advocate, Daily Herald, Intermountain ist discrimination complaints of farmers between January Defeating the Kingstons’ lawsuit is part of this struggle. Catholic, National Catholic Reporter, Catholic News 1997 and August 2004. Plaintiffs in the suit include BFAA, KRCL Radio 90.9 FM, Utah Independent Media It’s also needed to ensure that no boss can get any idea it Service, Inc., 13 individual farmers, and a class of nearly 70,000 Center, the website of the Immigrant can use this suit as a precedent to pursue their profi t-in- Earth Island Journal, farmers. Workers Freedom Ride Coalition, KUTV, creasing objectives. We pledge to do our outmost to make Joe Hill Dispatch, Later that day, farmers and their supporters packed the this a reality. And we urge all workers, farmers, youth, and Northwest Labor Press, Salt Lake City Weekly, Casper Star congressional hearing. Phillip Haynie, a Virginia farmer, and every other individual and organization interested in human Tribune, Craig Daily Press, Workers World. described how they were kept out of fi nal negotiations We pledge to continue our truthful coverage of the labor decency to join in. on the 1999 settlement, which was approved despite the opposition of farmers’ organizations leading the fi ght to defend their land. Unconditional aid to Haiti now! Michael Lewis, the court-appointed arbitrator for the consent decree, said his offi ce had disqualifi ed an estimated We are using part of our editorial space this week to to electricity, a precondition for economic and social ad- 70,000 claims that he said failed to meet the Sept. 15, 2000, publish the statement below, released September 29 by vances. We call for exposing the drive by Washington and its deadline stipulated in the consent decree. Democratic and Martín Koppel, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate from allies to prevent nations oppressed by imperialism—such as Republican members of the House judicial committee New York. Brazil, Iran, north Korea, and India—from developing the speculated that Congress could approve legislation that In response to the deadly fl ooding in Haiti, the Socialist sources of energy they need, including nuclear power. would allow the 70,000 individuals to have their claims Workers campaign demands: Washington’s response to this disaster is a promise of heard. Massive, immediate U.S. aid to Haiti, with no strings miserly aid. Instead of doctors, it deploys soldiers, whose “They all lied,” said Jerri Williams-White, referring to the attached! job is to keep working people in check. In contrast, revolu- testimony by USDA offi cials. Williams-White was forced Cancel Haiti’s foreign debt! The imperialist powers use tionary Cuba gives true solidarity with no strings attached. out of chicken farming when she was denied a loan by the this debt bondage to plunder the entire Third World. Some 600 Cuban volunteer doctors and nurses offer free, USDA in 1976 because she was a woman. “They told me All U.S., UN, and other imperialist troops out of Haiti! quality medical services in rural areas of Haiti. a woman couldn’t do farming,” she told the Militant. As a The rising death toll in Haiti, the thousands left homeless, At least 2,500 people are dead or missing in Haiti in the result, she moved to California and got a job at a General and the threat of epidemics after Tropical Storm Jeanne is wake of the storm. Dozens were killed in the rest of the Motors plant. “They said I couldn’t farm but I put in 30 not a “natural calamity.” It is caused by decades of imperial- Caribbean and in the United States from the recent hurri- years on the assembly line building trucks, busses, and ist oppression that has blocked economic development. canes. In contrast, not a single person died in Cuba during handling those heavy assembly guns,” she noted. “I even Deforestation has magnifi ed the destructive effects of Hurricane Ivan, and only four during Hurricane Charley, became a welder,” Williams-White said. “The women’s lib- fl ooding in Third World countries from Haiti to Indonesia as the revolutionary government mobilized workers and eration movement hit the company so hard that they sent and Nicaragua. After decades of intensive tree cutting for farmers to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people and us to school to learn welding.” Williams-White has retired fi rewood and charcoal, barely 1 percent of Haiti’s territory to organize other life-saving preparations. Why? Because from GM-Saturn and hopes to return to farming. has tree cover. Without access to electricity or modern fuels, in Cuba, workers and farmers have made a socialist revolu- Richard Pearson, a tobacco farmer from Virginia, told the thousands of workers and farmers depend for heat, light, tion and hold political power, acting in the interests of the Militant that the local USDA committee denied him a loan and cooking on charcoal made from chopping down trees. majority, not the profi ts of a few. in 1972 because he supposedly lived in the wrong county. The disaster in Haiti highlights the reality that more than 2 Cuba points the road that workers and farmers in the U.S. His farm borders on Brunswick and Greenville counties. billion people in the world—one third of humanity—lack and elsewhere will need to take: to organize a movement “When I moved to the county they said I should live in access to any modern form of energy. to wrest power out of the hands of the exploiting classes, they still denied the loan,” Pearson said. He was forced to The Socialist Workers campaign supports the efforts establish a government of working people, and join the take out a loan with a private bank. The interest rate for the by the power-poor semicolonial countries to obtain and worldwide fi ght for a society based on human dignity and USDA loan would have been 3 percent, Pearson said. “I develop the energy sources necessary to expand access cooperation, not the capitalist law of the jungle. paid 5 percent on the loan from the bank.” Protests pour in against attack on SWP Penn. campaign hall BY BETSY FARLEY by Blacks in nearby Wilkes-Barre. ter and Greater Hazleton Human Rights Coalition, joined HAZLETON, Pennsylvania—Letters and faxes continue Gillian Barker, a professor at Bucknell University in Tim Mailhot, Socialist Workers Party candidate for Con- to pour into the offi ces of Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta nearby Lewisburg, PA wrote, “While obviously some gress, on a September 24 delegation to the mayor’s offi ce to condemning the arson attack on the Socialist Workers people in this area feel threatened by the work you do there deliver the most recent batch of messages of support. Campaign and book center here and urging authorities are others like me who think it is of great importance. I Contributions are arriving daily for the $3,500 rebuilding to vigorously pursue the investigation to apprehend and salute your courage and dedication and will be honored to fund for the campaign offi ce and to replace fi re-damaged prosecute those responsible. contribute to your rebuilding fund.” Similar expressions books. “As of September 26, we have $2,000 in hand,” ex- In the early morning hours of September 11 a brick with of support have come from dozens of unionists, commu- plained Mailhot. Messages urging steps be taken to rapidly burning material was thrown through the window of the nity activists, academicians and others from the northeast apprehend those responsible for the attack can be sent to SWP center here igniting a fi re in the front of the offi ce that Pennsylvania area, nationwide, and from other countries Hazleton mayor Louis Barletta, 40 N. Church St., Hazleton, could have endangered the lives of families in the apart- including Australia, New Zealand, and Paraguay. PA 18201, phone: (570) 459-4910; fax: (570) 459-4966. ments upstairs. At about the same time an arsonist set fi re David Greenleif, a representative of the UNITE-HERE Funds can be sent to 2004 Socialist Workers Campaign, to the White House Café, a restaurant and tavern patronized union, and Laurie Klemow of the Jewish Community Cen- earmarked for rebuilding the campaign offi ce. 10 The Militant October 12, 2004 Disaster in Haiti Continued from front page a rooftop refuge with his family. Whole er. This extreme deforestation—the worst families were lost. Every building in Go- in the Americas—exacerbates the effect of naives is said to be affected, with 4,000 even a minor rainfall, causing massive run- completely destroyed. off, mudslides and erosion, clogging rivers The hospital in Gonaives was still out and lakes, and polluting coastal waters. of commission a week later after it was The imperialist powers that have domi- hit by a mudslide. Bodies of patients nated Haiti have left it so underdeveloped were still buried in the knee-deep mud. that most people have no source of modern There is no fresh water or electricity energy. The national electrical system only in the city. serves a tiny minority. Average electrical An article in the Miami Herald from consumption per person in Haiti is only 2.8 Dibedou gives a picture of the damage in percent of U.S. per capita consumption. The the countryside. “[S]ome of the houses real fi gure for workers and peasants, how- built on low-lying areas were washed ever, is a lot less than the national average, away, and most of their families lost their which fell 18 percent in the 1990s. With no farm animals and their crops,” it said. alternative source of fuel, Haitian workers “The fl oodwaters receded here almost have used Haiti’s forests to manufacture as quickly as they came. But now the land charcoal both for their own use and to eke itself is wounded: Fields once planted out a living by selling it. About 70 percent with corn and sorghum are covered with of Haitian homes use charcoal or wood for boulders; a thick, now-dry layer of mud cooking and heating water. covering other fi elds will take months to Two thirds of Haitians live under the plow and replant. ‘We lost eight cows national poverty level. Annual per capita and eight goats,’ said Asemene Donasien, income in this predominantly agricultural pointing to a shed where her family’s AFP/Getty Images/Sophia Paris country is only $440, intensifying the pres- corn harvest was stored. Soaked by the The city of Gonaives, Haiti, devastated by fl ooding September 19. Rains rolling across sure on the land. Many survive with help fl oods, the corn is now ruined for eating deforested countryside in two storms have killed more than 4,500 people in Haiti this year. from family members living in the United or as seed for planting.” States or other countries. Haitians living The damage to crops will intensify the transition from a failed state to a criminal “Clothing is wonderful, but let them go na- abroad send remittances to relatives and food crisis over the coming months. state.” ked for a while, at least the kids,” was the others at home totaling about $800 million Members of the UN-sponsored military The World Bank organized a conference advice offered by Teresa Heinz Kerry, the per year. forces and private aid agencies are provid- in Washington, D.C., in July where wealthy wife of Democratic presidential contender The coastal city of Gonaives with a popu- ing food and water to only a small portion nations pledged $1 billion in “aid” to Haiti. John Kerry. The scion of one of America’s lation of 200,000 was largely underwater of those in need. One week after the fl ood, Most of this funding, however, is extended wealthiest families, she told volunteers September 18, after the storm hit the north UN representatives say they have only got- in the form of loans or investments that per- packing emergency relief supplies Septem- coast of the island, on its way to the Baha- ten food to 25,000 people. petuate Haiti’s colonial domination. ber 15 at a market in Brooklyn’s Caribbean mas and central Florida. Parts of Gonaives Several countries have donated emer- Even as the fi rst in the series of hurricanes community that “water is necessary, and remained submerged a week later. Flood gency aid. The government of Cuba, which hit the Caribbean, some capitalist fi gures in then generators, and then food, and then waters rose 10 feet as overfl owing rivers has a permanent medical mission of 600 the United States couldn’t help but express clothes…. I think it’s important we help all from the valleys above the city poured doctors and nurses in Haiti, has 16 medical their contempt for the people of the region. the kids we can.” down, charged with mud and rocks. Bod- technicians in Gonaives. Venezuela im- ies were carried down rivers and streams mediately offered more than $1 million. into the city. The European Union offered $1.8 million. Port de Paix, on the northern coast, lost Washington initially said it would give a U.S. military repositioning 56 people to the fl ood waters. Up river from paltry $60,000—which it later raised to Port de Paix, the small town of Chansolme over $2 million after widespread criticism. Continued from page 9 units; intermixing of units of the army, was reported to have 400 people missing But the damage to roads is so great that the believe it makes sense to try to work out navy, and air force in combat; and shutting and 18 dead. Gros Morne, Pilate, Ennery, limited aid on hand has not been effectively arrangements with countries that are inter- down some of the U.S. bases in western Passereine, Poteaux, and Mapou were delivered. UN-sponsored troops have beaten ested in the presence of the U.S. and which Europe while shifting more troops to the among the many other towns and villages Haitian working people at distribution sites are in closer proximity to the regions of the east and to central Asia. Another goal of that were reportedly hard hit. With roads who are desperately seeking food and drink- world where our troops are more likely to the Pentagon, he said, is shifting non-mili- washed out and telephones inoperative, able water. be needed in the future.” tary jobs, such as cooking and medical however, information on the scope of the The regime of Prime Minister Gerard The fourth and fi nal point, Rumsfeld care, to civilian contractors as the military disaster is incomplete. Latortue—which replaced the elected gov- said, is that “we should take advantage of focuses more on upgrading its “warrior Many rivers fl ow into the Quinte River, ernment of Jean Bertrand Aristide after a advanced capabilities that allow us to do ethos.” which drains into the sea at Gonaives, whose rightist military uprising last February that more with less. The old reliance on pres- In previous public presentations, Rums- highest point is only two meters above sea enjoyed Washington’s tacit backing—has ence and mass refl ects the last century’s feld and other Pentagon offi cials have level. As tributaries overfl owed their banks, been largely a spectator in the rescue ef- industrial-age thinking.” stressed that the ruling class does not need rising 30 feet in some cases, the rising wa- forts. The defense secretary outlined some now, or in the foreseeable future, a draftee ter caused city residents to seek shelter The U.S. Senate recently passed a resolu- of the advanced technology armaments army and must maintain the volunteer on rooftops and trees. Waters rose to roof tion that concludes by warning the Haitian the Pentagon is developing to meet these character of the military—offering hefty level, causing the whole city to look like a government that “the failure to establish goals. These include, he said, “three new pay increases to enhance recruitment. lake with rafts fl oating on it as the sun rose a secure and stable environment and to state-of-the-art guided missile destroyers To accomplish all this, of course, the morning after the fl ood, according to an conduct credible and inclusive elections (in to patrol the seas; 42 new F/A-18 fi ghter requires a substantial boost in military eye witness who was lucky enough to fi nd 2005) will likely result in Haiti’s complete aircraft to guard the skies; and new C-17 spending, which has been moving steadi- strategic air lifters, which ly upwards the last three years. U.S. total will improve our ability to military expenditures reached an all-time move forces quickly over high of nearly $405 billion last year in long distances.” New constant 2000 U.S. dollars, about $100 bil- MILITANT LABOR FORUMS advanced spy satellites, lion higher than when Bush took offi ce. FLORIDA mediate U.S. aid to Haiti with no strings attached! which will be deployed This represents 54 percent of the world’s Speaker: Dan Fein, Socialist Workers 2004 New York “deep behind enemy total military spending, with China a dis- Miami campaign director; Fri., Oct. 1. Dinner, 7 p.m.; pro- lines,” will speed image tant second at $60 billion a year. Sudan: U.S. gov’t uses Darfur crisis to threaten gram, 8 p.m intervention. Speaker: Alex Alvarado. Fri., Oct. 8, 7: transmission from the current 12 minutes to less 30 p.m. 8365 NE 2nd Ave., #206. Donation requested. Why do capitalist politicians in European Union Correction Tel: (305) 756-4436. want to stop ‘river of Islam’ into Europe by pre- than a second, he stated. venting Turkey’s entry into EU? Fri., Oct. 8. Dinner, Rumsfeld also re- The article “8,000 farm workers win ILLINOIS 7 p.m.; program, 8 p.m. peated other aspects of union contract” in the October 5 issue the transformation and misidentifi ed the farm workers’ organi- Chicago Both programs at 307 W. 36 St., 10th fl oor (use north redeployment of the zation. It is the Farm Labor Organizing Meet the Socialist Workers Party candidates. elevators). Donation: $5 for dinner, $5 for program. U.S. armed forces. These Committee (FLOC), not the Farmer Speakers: Arrin Hawkins, SWP candidate for U.S. Tel: (212) 629-6649. vice president. Rebecca Williamson, SWP candidate include more reliance on Labor Organizing Committee. for Congress in 4th C.D. Fri., Oct. 8. Dinner, 6:30 p.m.; elite Special Operations program, 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation, $5 dinner, $5 PENNSYLVANIA program. 3557 S. Archer Ave. Tel: (773) 890-1190 Hazelton ‘Farmingville’ Video documentary on the resistance LETTERS MICHIGAN to 2000–2001 attacks on immigrant workers in Long Island, New York. Sat., Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. 69 N. Wyoming ‘Jackson Advocate’ strike at Freshwater Farms catfi sh Detroit St. Tel: (570) 454-8320. Readers who have been follow- plant in Belzoni, Mississippi, in Hurricanes: Cause of death toll ‘natural disaster’ ing the Militant’s coverage of the 1998–99, and David Howard and or capitalism? Speaker: Ilona Gersh, Socialist Work- R.D. Howard from the Mileston ers Party, Fri., Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. 4208 W. Vernor St. Socialist Workers 2004 campaign’s (Between Scotten & Clark, southwest Detroit). Tel: AUSTRALIA efforts to get on the ballot in Mis- Co-op, the oldest Black farmers’ (313) 554-0504. Sydney sissippi will be pleased to know cooperative in Mississippi. Election night social with Ron Poulsen, Communist that the August 16–22 Jackson Ad- Susan LaMont League Candidate for Watson, House of Representa- vocate published a letter to the edi- Birmingham, Alabama NEW JERSEY tives, in 2004 elections. Sat., Oct. 2, 7 p.m. 3/281-7 tor from four campaign supporters Newark Beamish St., Campsie (upstairs in arcade near Evaline St.). Tel: (02) 9718-9698. in Tchula, Mississippi. The letter Chechnya and the fi ght for self-determination. was written in response to an early The letters column is an open Speaker: Sara Lobman, Socialist Workers Party. Fri, Oct. 8, 168 Bloomfi eld Avenue, 2nd Floor. Tel: (973) August article in the Advocate forum for all viewpoints on 481-0077. NEW ZEALAND that red-baited and slandered the sub jects of interest to working Christchurch Socialist Workers campaign. The peo ple. As rents, house prices soar: Affordable housing is letter from Tchula also appeared Please keep your letters brief. NEW YORK a right! Speaker: Annalucia Vermunt, Communist in the September 21 Militant. It Where necessary they will be Manhattan League. Fri., Oct. 15, 7:00 p.m. The Gloucester Arcade, was signed by Barbara Bell and abridged. Please indicate if you Haiti fl oods: A social, not a ‘natural’ disaster; Im- 129 Gloucester St. Tel: (03)365-6055. Joann Hogan, two veterans of prefer that your initials be used the Catfi sh Workers of America’s rath er than your full name. The Militant October 12, 2004 11 Australian gov’t covers up killing by cop BY LINDA HARRIS tober 9 federal elections, joined the speak- SYDNEY, Australia—The New South out to demand justice for TJ. He called for Wales state coroner has claimed in an Au- the prosecution of the cops who killed the gust 17 report that Thomas “TJ” Hickey died youth and protests against the whitewash as a result of a “freak accident” after being by the court system. “The courts always act “followed, rather than chased” by cops. TJ, to cover up constant police racist harass- a 17-year-old Aboriginal youth, died after ment and violence against Aboriginal and being thrown from his bike and impaled other oppressed and working-class youth,” on a fence while being chased by police in he said. Redfern, Sydney, on February 14. His death sparked a nine-hour street battle between ‘Police rammed the kid’ cops and Aboriginal youth. The cops’ cover-up was further exposed In his report, State Coroner John Ab- when Paul Wilkinson, an Aboriginal liaison ernathy cleared the cops of all blame for offi cer with the Redfern police, told the Sep- TJ’s death even though it occurred during a tember 24 NSW parliamentary inquiry into police operation. the “Redfern riot” that “the police actually At a September 24 NSW parliamentary rammed the young kid.” Wilkinson, who has inquiry into the “Redfern riot,” however, an since been transferred out of Redfern, said Aboriginal liaison offi cer with the police that his house had been burned down and testifi ed that the police covered up their he had received death threats from police direct responsibility for Hickey’s death. warning him not to come forward and give “The coronial inquiry was not just a evidence. cover-up, it was worse—it was a complete Militant/Ron Poulsen Wilkinson was never questioned by police and utter whitewash,” said Ray Jackson, Protesters march February 24 in Sydney, Australia, against killing by cop of Thomas TJ authorities for that report. “The reason they president of the Indigenous Social Justice Hickey, an Aboriginal youth. Recent report by New South Wales state coroner whitewashed wouldn’t ask me is because they’re trying to Association, at a September 3 speak-out the police, despite testimony to the contrary by witnesses and a police offi cer. cover up for exactly what took place down organized by the Militant Labour Forum in Redfern that day,” he said. in Campsie, Sydney. “There were con- Hollingsworth, a senior police constable, stated that Hickey’s internal injuries were At the parliamentary inquiry the liaison tradictions galore in the police evidence refused to testify at the inquest on the the result of absolute force. That is, the bike offi cer described the racist behavior typi- presented,” said Jackson. “Even given the grounds it could lead to possible disciplin- must have been hit with force to catapult the cal of Redfern cops. Wilkinson described evidence, his decision was a bad one.” ary action, reported the Sydney Morning youth onto the fence. one junior constable saying when he heard The coroner stated that he could not ac- Herald. “When we saw the bike, the wheels had a scream, “I hope it was a coon underneath cept statements from Hollingsworth and “The coroner made the most insulting been changed. A young guy who had known our tires.” Reynolds, the two cops in the wagon chas- decision by allowing Hollingsworth not to TJ saw his bike with the wheel off at Red- In the coroner’s report much of the blame ing TJ, that they had not seen the youth when take the stand,” Jackson commented. “He fern station. No forensic evidence was taken for the so-called riot on February 14 was they traveled down the street behind him. should have forced him to take the stand. It from the police wagons. In an open inquiry laid on TJ’s family. The coroner stated that Eyewitnesses interviewed by the Militant was a slap across the face to the family and it would have been.” if the family had gone to the police with at the time said they saw the cops’ vehicle supporters.” “We want to reintroduce the case back their concerns that TJ had been pursued by ram TJ’s bike from behind, pitching him According to the Herald, “the inquest into the coroner’s court so he can hear the the police then the outcome “would have onto the steel fence. found that Hickey died of penetrating neck true evidence—not the fabricated evidence followed a very different path.” Police Commissioner Ken Moroney de- and chest injuries sustained when he was he heard in court. But it will take a lot of An August 18 Herald editorial following fended his cops, saying that inconsistencies catapulted over the handlebars of his ‘defec- lobbying and support to get the case re- the release of the coroner’s report called for in the statements given by Hollingsworth tive’ bike onto the fence.” opened,” he said. “more experienced police” and “a rethink of and Reynolds, “do not necessarily amount “The forensic report on his injuries was Ron Poulsen, the Communist League policing approaches.” to lies.” never looked at in court,” Jackson said. “It candidate for the seat of Watson in the Oc- An internal police report into the events following TJ’s death recommended that police consider using more “offensive” riot-control equipment such as rubber bul- Union vote at Quebec Wal-Mart upheld lets, armoured rescue vehicles, long-range capsicum spray, and gas grenades. BY SÉBASTIEN DESAUTELS continuing the fi ght to bring in a union. meet with us, and we won’t win much. But There has been a beefi ng up of police in JONQUIERE, Quebec—The Quebec Their second attempt began in June and we are the fi rst link in the chain.” Redfern and Sydney more generally in the Labour Relations Board upheld September on July 6 they turned in the signed cards. “What we deplore,” said Desbiens, “is wake of the February 14 “riot.” On July 16, 24 its earlier decision to certify United Food “This time we had more cards signed, that even though Andrew Pelletier, the for example, the New South Wales state La- and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local enough so that even if the section manag- Wal-Mart boss in Toronto, says he will ac- bour government announced that a full-time 503 representing workers at Wal-Mart here. ers were included in the vote we would still cept the workers’ decision, by his threats and riot squad of 46 offi cers would be created The board made the ruling after a company be the majority,” said Desbiens. actions he proves the opposite. It means that to respond to “civil disorder” anywhere in appeal of a union victory in a representation When she was hired, Lavoie said, the Wal-Mart wants to attack the labor laws by the state. election, which the labor board ruled valid company paid her only $8 an hour because not accepting the majority vote.” A $6 million seven-story new police on August 2. it recognised only 10 of her 20 years expe- In the next weeks and months contract station is planned in Redfern with cop Militant reporters who visited Jonquière rience, and Desbiens received $7.80 for 5 negotiations are due to start. numbers boosted from 170 to 226. They September 4 got a feel for the signifi cance years experience in sales, when in fact she will be issued with riot shields and undergo of this victory in interviews with Wal-Mart had 10. Both are part-time workers. The two Sébastien Desautels is a garment worker riot control training, including the use of workers. unionists said most of those working at this and member of UNITE HERE. armored vehicles. This is the only union local at this time Wal-Mart are single mothers. Some, like that organizes all the workers at a Wal-Mart Desbiens, are denied full-time posts. She facility. Wal-Mart has 1.3 million employees thinks it is because of her union activity. Iceland teachers strike public schools worldwide, and 60,000 in Canada, earning Lavoie works as a customer service employ- an average of Can$8 (US$6.25) an hour. ee in the cashier department and Desbiens BY HALLBJÖRN GUMUNDSSON won their demands “the wages of all other Johanne Desbiens and Sylvie Lavoie is a cashiers’ supervisor, which is really just AND ÖGMUNDUR JÓNSSON wage-earners will rise.” It argued that “then have been working in this Wal-Mart since it someone who fi lls in for others, she said. REYKJAVÍK, Iceland—A nationwide the buying power of everyone will plunge opened in August 2000, when the workforce Part-time workers like Lavoie and Desbiens strike by more than 4,000 teachers has and infl ation will go wild. This is a horrifi c was about 250. Today there are 50 full-time work Thursday through Sunday—a diffi cult become a hotly debated issue here. The vision.” The editorial was repeating a myth workers out of a total workforce of 165, they schedule for single mothers. strike, which began on September 20, has frequently peddled by the employers: that said. The full-timers work only 28 hours a “It couldn’t be worse than that: no ben- shut down all public schools for students higher wages for some workers will hurt week. Part-time workers put in around 12 efi ts, no insurance, nothing!” said Lavoie. between 6 and 16 years of age. Together the other working people by causing infl ation. hours a week. “When we started working The most difficult part was not how struck schools have 45,000 students. Teachers are demanding an immediate there we didn’t complain much, because to convince co-workers of the need for a The teachers face a concentrated propa- average increase of 13.5 percent and annual Jonquière is not like Montreal,” explained union, but being able to talk to them. The ganda campaign against them by the capital- increases ranging between 2.25 percent and Desbiens, referring to the fact that the Sa- two unionists said in the fi rst union-organiz- ist media, which seeks to pit other working 3 percent. guenay region has few jobs to offer. “We ing effort they got most of the cards signed people against the teachers and attack their Eiríkur Jónsson, chairman of the Icelan- gave our 150 percent for Wal-Mart.” in one evening, right under the boss’s nose right to strike. dic Teachers Union, spoke at a rally held “Our fi rst motivation for the struggle is at the company Christmas party. During the On September 22, commentator Thráinn at the strike headquarters in Reykjavík on to fi ght injustice, and I would do it again second attempt Wal-Mart didn’t notice that Bertelsson attacked the teachers’ strike in September 22. According to the Strike Mail, anytime,” said Lavoie. “There was an injus- they were getting cards signed until they had his regular column in Fréttabladid, the most a daily union bulletin published during the tice going on because there was no respect almost fi nished. widely circulated daily in Iceland. Under strike, he said the teachers’ negotiation for seniority—newly hired workers earned Desbiens said the bosses tried to drive the headline “Hostage taking or a strike?” committee had clear direction from the more than the others.” The workers’ vic- them out of the store. “They wanted to he charged that the “ideology behind [the membership “not [to] settle before we tory came out of two attempts to convince make us leave by not giving us postings. strike] much more resembles the ideology have accomplished our goals regarding the the majority of workers to sign cards for It’s really outrage that made us continue. of terrorists and hostage-takers than labor classroom work and work management, a union. The fi rst time, in April, they fell The trick is to transform that into positive struggle.” Using a common argument by and including the so-called wage pot in the eight votes short. Desbiens and Lavoie both energy,” she said. big-business commentators, he said the basic wage. These demands are not up for explained that in the days prior to the April “After what we’ve accomplished we teachers’ strikes hurt children, not employ- compromise.” vote managers threatened the store would now get calls from other Wal-Mart workers ers. He went on to say that strikes in general The “wage pot” refers to a sum of money close if the union got in. Lavoie said they on how can they can get a union in,” said are outmoded. that each principal can divide at will among felt discouraged about the outcome, but co- Lavoie. “I think it’s going to be hard to get An editorial in the same paper that ran on the teachers. This came with the last con- workers kept coming back to them about our fi rst contract. Wal-Mart will not want to September 19 lamented that if the teachers Continued on Page 4

12 The Militant October 12, 2004